New York State Fair Obtains Sponsors for Fair's Butter Sculpture, Milk Bar

From the New York State Fair:

Two companies with significant ties to New York state agriculture will sponsor the signature attractions at the Great New York State Fair’s Dairy Products Building.  

Tully’s Good Times restaurants will sponsor the milk sold at the fair’s famous Milk Bar, while Wegmans Food Markets will sponsor the American Dairy Association’s Butter Sculpture, Acting Fair Director Troy Waffner announced June 9.

This year, the Tully’s logo will appear on each of the seven-ounce cups of perfectly chilled white or chocolate milk sold at the Milk Bar. Last year, 398,059 cups of milk were sold at 25 cents a cup, representing a complete sellout of the milk available.  

All of the milk and buttermilk products sold at Tully’s come from Central New York dairy processor Byrne Dairy. Byrne Dairy also supplies the milk for the Milk Bar.  

In addition to dairy, Tully’s buys produce from local farms in-season. The long-time Fair vendor operates restaurants across Upstate NY under the Tully’s, CopperTop Tavern and Good Buddy’s Pub brands.

The Butter Sculpture is created and operated by Syracuse-based American Dairy Association North East, which represents all dairy farmers in New York state. The butter used to make the iconic sculpture comes from New York sources. 

It was a first stop for many of the fair’s more than 1 million visitors in 2016 and veteran fairgoers eagerly await its unveiling the day before the fair opens each year. This year’s sponsor of the Butter Sculpture, Rochester-based Wegmans, is a leader in the grocery industry in selling and using locally grown and made products and is annually rated among the nation’s very best employers.  

"These new partnerships are an exciting addition to this year's fair and to the Milk Bar, which is a long-standing tradition for fairgoers," said Agriculture and Markets Commissioner Richard Ball. "We are pleased to continue our mission of promoting the very best of New York agriculture and shining the spotlight on our dairy industry at Great New York State Fair."

“We are proud to bring these first-ever sponsorships into the Dairy Products Building as they will support our long-term plan to reenergize this vital piece of the fair," said Waffner. 

"We thank them for their investment and want fairgoers and dairy farmers to know that our goal going forward, as stewards of New York agriculture, is to find new ways to link more New Yorkers to our great dairy products as we have done with other New York products at the fair,”  Waffner said.

Baby Care Centers Coming to the NYS Fairgrounds

From Gov. Andrew Cuomo's office

The 2017 Great New York State Fair will feature new Baby Care Centers, providing families with a comfortable, supervised and air-conditioned place to care for their children. 

Each Baby Care Center has private space for nursing mothers, as well as a clean, staffed area where parents can change diapers or relax with their small children. The four Baby Care Centers will be placed around the fairgrounds to allow quick and convenient access for parents.

The buildings are attractive and welcoming, with comfortable seating and dormers to provide natural light. The Amish Structures company, based in Manlius, built the 20-foot A-frame structures. 

Carpenters from the New York State Fair are fitting up the interior, and grounds crews are landscaping the exterior. The buildings will also be available for rent to the private firms that host large-scale events on the Fairgrounds during the year.

"We are committed to enhancing every aspect of the Fair experience and these Baby Care Centers will provide additional comfort and peace of mind to parents taking part in this great New York tradition," said Gov. Andrew Cuomo. "Our unprecedented investment in promoting the fair in Central New York helps drive attendance, fueling the local economy and spurring tourism – allowing this region to grow and thrive for years to come."

"The governor’s vision for the fair focuses on making enhancements to the grounds that will improve the fairgoer experience," said Ag and Markets Commissioner Richard Ball. "These new Baby Centers are a welcome addition to the Fair, providing a great new amenity for families with young children and complementing the work that’s been done already to take the Fair to the next level."

"We’re excited to be able to provide this service to families of young children," said Acting Fair Director Troy Waffner. "It will make it easier for families to enjoy their day at the Fair and it is one more way that we are responding to the needs of our fairgoers."

The new Baby Care Centers are part of the  ongoing efforts to improve access and amenities for all fairgoers. Some of the other elements include improving access to buildings for people with mobility issues, adding seating and shade throughout the grounds, and providing interpreters for fair events and concerts. The fair’s leadership meets regularly with interest groups to solicit feedback and suggestions for improvements.

The project builds on several years of major improvements at the fairgrounds, the home of the nation’s oldest state fair. The improvements began with the state's investment of $50 million, which resulted in a new Main Gate, first-ever RV park, a new home for the Midway and many other enhancements that debuted in 2016.

For 2017, the Baby Care Centers are a part of additional planned improvements, including a new and larger home for the New York State Police exhibit, a revitalized Turtle Mound stage and other improvements in the Indian Village, and a new sky ride along the Wade Shows Midway. 

Taste NY Food Truck Competition Expands at New York State Fair

From the state Department of Agriculture and Markets:

The Great New York State Fair today (Feb. 15) announced that its Taste NY Food Truck Competition will expand to two days for the 2017 Fair.  

The competition to find the best entrée, served by food truck chefs and made with New York state grown and produced ingredients, will take place Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 2 and 3.  Food trucks entered in the competition will be located around Chevy Court.

 

“Taste NY represents the very best of New York agriculture and having our food truck chefs cook up exciting, new dishes for our panel of judges and for fairgoers is a great way to promote New York grown and produced foods," said Ag and Markets Commissioner Richard Ball. "With the competition expanded to two days, we look forward to seeing every region of New York state represented.”
 

“The 2016 competition featured some amazing food and big crowds of people waiting patiently to buy a sample," said Acting State Fair Director Troy Waffner. "We’re expanding the competition to a second day so more people can participate and enjoy some of the best foods grown and made in New York state.”

To take part in the competition, food truck operators design signature entrées using primarily New York state products. A panel of judges made up of food industry experts and enthusiasts will sample the entrees to select a Judges’ Choice winner on both Saturday and Sunday.  

Truck vendors can then sell sample-sized portions of their entrée for $3 to fairgoers, who can cast one vote for the entrée they liked best. Those votes will then be tallied to declare the People’s Choice winners.  

Each daily winner of the Judges’ Choice and People’s Choice will receive a $750 gift card to Maines Food and Party Warehouse, while the People’s Choice runner-up will receive a portable generator on each day.

 

Registration is now underway for food truck operators who would like to take part in the competition.  Visit http://nysfair.ny.gov/competitions/food-truck-competition/ for details and an entry form.

 

In 2016, Silo Food Truck of Ovid won the Judges’ Choice award for its Telekinetic Fried Chicken, a fried drumstick over a slaw flavored with peach and raspberry and purple sticky rice, while The Meatball Cup from The Meatball Truck of Rochester won the People’s Choice.  

More than 2,500 fairgoers voted in the competition.

Get Super Cheap State Fair Tickets on Cyber Monday

The Great New York State Fair’s Cyber Monday ticket sale returns Monday, Nov. 28, offering the lowest price of the year on tickets to the 2017 New York State Fair.

Acting Director Troy Waffner said the online-only sale will provide 20,000 admission tickets at just $3 per ticket, which is 50 percent off the regular advance sale price and 70 percent off the $10 price at the gate during the fair. 

The sale begins at 6 a.m. at the fair’s online ticket sales site, at  http://www.etix.com/ticket/p/4350112

 “We’ve just completed the greatest fair in our 175 year history, with the highest marks ever from visitors," Waffner said. "The new grounds have never looked better and our programming this year will top last year’s so these tickets are a better value than ever. I encourage fairgoers to get their tickets early since they definitely won’t last.”

Tickets sold on Cyber Monday are only sold online and on the fair’s official online ticket seller, etix.com. Etix charges 13 cents per ticket and a credit card fee of 2.5 percent per ticket, making the total cost of each ticket $3.21. 

Purchases are limited to eight tickets per person. Buyers may either print out the tickets or use their mobile phone or device at the gate to show proof of purchase for entrance to the fair.

At least two more special admission ticket promotions will occur before the fair. 

The Halfway to the Fair sale will take place on Friday, Feb. 24 when tickets will be $4 each, and the Cinco de Mayo sale, when tickets will be $5 each, will take place on Friday, May 5. 

The regular advance sale ticket effort begins in July at $6 per ticket. Groups and businesses buying at least 100 tickets can receive special discounts through the Fair’s Group Sales program. Contact Nick Pirro at 487-7111, ext. 1214 for details or visit http://nysfair.ny.gov/buy-tickets/group-ticket-sales/.

 

The fair's 2017 run will be from Aug. 24 to Sept. 4.

Fair Survey Results Show Great Improvement; Task Force Named for Phase Two

By DEBRA J. GROOM

Were you stopped as you left the New York State Fair this summer and asked to answer some survey questions?
 
If you did, the results of that survey are in.
 
Officials with the New York State Fair did the survey during the 12-day run of the 2016 fair to find out what people like about the fair, what they don’t like about the fair, which attractions are visited the most and if people are aware of some of the biggest exhibits at the fair.
 
A total of 600 fairgoers answered the questions. There is a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percent.
 
In all, visitations increased for most exhibits and attrractions. The Midway food, rides and games wre all rated highly and showed improvement over 2015.
 
There was high awareness of the wristbands, Megapass and Gold Access programs for the Midway and there also was high awareness for the Taste of NY program and the Dairy Cow Birthing Center.
 
The Dairy Cow Birthing Center had a highly positive rating of those who went there, with 83 percent giving it a thumbs up. Of those who saw the State Fair History exhibit, 76 percent gave it top ratings and 74 percent thought the equine demonstration was great.
 
The results:
 
Of agriculture exhibits, the butter sculpture and cheese sculptures in the Dairy Products Building are a big draw. A total of 81 percent of the people taking the survey said they checked out this exhibit. That is up from 63 percent in 2014 and 72 percent in 2015.
 
The entire Dairy Products Building is another popular spot, with 85 percent of the fairgoers surveyed saying they are sure to stop into the building to check out what’s happening there. That was up from 63 percent in 2015 and 61 percent in 2014.
 
The Horticulture Building is extremely popular, with 66 percent saying they always stop there. And one exhibit in the Horticulture Building — the New York Maple Center — always hit a sweet spot with fairgoers as 54 percent said they stop to check out all that is maple.
 
In fact, the maple center saw a huge increase in visitors — up from 38 percent in 2015 and only 28 percent in 2014.
 
Even though awareness of the Dairy Cow Birthing Center was more than 50 percent, only 33 percent of those taking the survey said they went to the center. That was the same percentage as in 2015 but up from the 22 percent in 2014.
 
Less than half of the respondents were aware of the equine demonstration ( 46 percent) and the State Fair history exhibit (42 percent). Awareness of the equine demonstration was down from the year before, when it was at 60 percent. 
 
The fair’s annual survey found that 87 percent of the 2016 attendees rated the changes to the fairgrounds this year as positive. The fair also received record-high ratings for its family friendliness and affordability.
 
As part of the fair’s record approval ratings and record attendance for 2016, Gov. Andrew Cuomo has set up a new task force to provide recommendations to further improve the New York State Fair.
 
On Nov. 2, he announced the task force will recommend improvements for Phase Two of the State Fair Master Plan and evaluate options to maximize the state’s historic investment and grow the region’s economy.
 
He said the task force recommendations will build on the state’s $50 million plan to revitalize the historic fairgrounds in Onondaga County. The state will invest as much as an additional $50 million for the completion of Phase Two of the Master Plan, pending the recommendations of the Task Force and Legislative support.
 
“From the new Main Gate and Empire RV Park to the expanded Midway, we are bringing the New York State Fair into the 21st century to showcase Central New York’s beauty to more fairgoers – and this year’s attendance record is proof positive that our investments are working,” Cuomo said.
 
“We will continue our renewed focus on the fair to drive tourism in the region and move the economy forward,” Cuomo said. “I look forward to receiving the Task Force’s recommendations this fall and exploring new ways to transform one of Central New York’s greatest assets into a year-round economic generator.”
 
“The governor’s $50 million plan truly reinvented the State Fair, while remaining true to its focus on agriculture, great food and music and family fun,” said state Agriculture Commissioner and task force co-chair Richard A. Ball. “The changes were clearly met with great enthusiasm and the record crowds were proof positive that we got it right.”
 
“The success of this year’s fair also reaffirmed its importance as a major economic engine for Central NY and the State, and it is critical we continue to invest in its growth,” Ball said. “I look forward to the discussions of the new task force, which, I have no doubt, will provide valuable feedback and innovative ideas on phase 2 plans that will take the New York State Fair to a whole new level.”
 
“Our fair team worked hard to give people the best fair in our long history in our beautiful new home, and we look forward to the hard work necessary to make this second phase of the project into an even greater success,” said Acting Fair Director Troy Waffner.
 
Phase Two Improvements to the State Fair
 
The governor charged the new task force with making additional recommendations and developing fresh ideas for Phase Two of the state’s ongoing investment in the fairgrounds.
 
The task force will meet in November to review the State Fairgrounds Master Plan developed in 2015, and provide the Governor with their recommendations for additional investment opportunities by the end of the year.
 
Specifically, the task force will focus on:
 
** Improving transportation options between the amphitheater at Onondaga Lake to the fairgrounds, so fairgoers can make the most of this state-of-the-art facility during their visit;
 
** Addressing public transportation and parking around the fair to better accommodate the increasing number of attendees and make it easier for people to get to and from the fair;
 
** Building the partnership between the county and the village of Solvay to connect the work being done on Milton Avenue and along the Bridge Street corridor;
 
** Ensuring the fair remains a world-class showcase for our TasteNY entrepreneurs and leveraging the state’s beer, wine, spirits, yogurt, cheese, maple syrup industries.
 
Members of the Governor’s State Fair Task Force are: co-chairs Joanie Mahoney, Onondaga County Executive and Ball; state Sens. John DeFrancisco, Dave Valesky and Patty Ritchie; Assembly members Bill Magnarelli, Pam Hunter, Bill Magee and Al Stirpe; RoAnn Destito, state Office of General Services commissioner; Matthew Driscoll, state Department of Transportation commissioner; Rick Fedrizzi, International Well Building Institute, president and chief executive officer; Charlie Smith, Populous Group; Eric Mower, chair and chief executive officer of Eric Mower and Associates; Christine Nycholas, Nicholas & Lence Communications; John Trimble, C&S Engineers; Frank Zaitshik, Wade Shows; Brian Schuman, Fair Productions; Eugene Cassidy, chief executive officer, Big E; Richard Lee, CENTRO; and Rob O’Conner, The Nationals.
Also contributing: New York State

Get Your Entry in Now for the State Fair's "Star Spangled Challenge"

News from the New York State Fair:

Entries are due June 8 for the second annual Great New York State Fair "Star Spangled Challenge" contest.

 

The contest, which began last year, aims to choose 12 singers for the daily National Anthem at the New York State Fair. 

 

"We're getting all kinds of entries from all areas of the state, but we want even more as this last week for entering the contest begins," said Acting Fair Director Troy Waffner. "Even if you entered last year, you can enter again this year. Grab your cell phone and give it a shot.  It's a fun competition and who knows - you might wind up a winner."

 

Entries so far cover a wide range of performers and musical styles. Most are solo singers, but a man named Larry from Staten Island performs the anthem on his saxophone, Chuck and Betsy from Fulton sing in harmony as a duo, and the more than 60 members of the Liverpool Community Chorus put the power of many voices behind the song.  

 

Many show themselves singing at public gatherings, such as Syracuse University basketball games, a minor league baseball game and the Oswego Speedway.

 

Competition submissions must be made by midnight June 8 at http://bit.ly/StarSpangled2016 this link.  Competitors should create and submit short videos that show them performing "The Star Spangled Banner."  

 

A panel of judges will narrow the entries to 20 finalists.  Public voting then begins on a special page on the fair's Facebook site, and the 12 competitors with the highest vote totals will be selected to sing the anthem on one of the fair's 12 days.

 

To enter the challenge, contestants should create videos no longer than three minutes of themselves performing the first verse of "The Star Spangled Banner."  Performers can sing alone or in groups, and instrumental-only versions are allowed.  There are two ways to enter the competition:

• Upload videos to the contest site on the Fair's Facebook page at http://bit.ly/StarSpangled2016 and fill out the brief entry form there.
• Email submissions to newyorkstatefair@agriculture.ny.gov. Contestants must email the actual video file and not a link to a file housed on another site.

 

All entries, however they are submitted, must include the performer's name, address and phone number.  Emailed entries will be added to the contest site by fair staff by the next business day. Four judges will select 20 finalists. 

 

Public voting on the 20 finalists begins June 14 and runs through midnight, July 3. The 12 contestants with the most votes will be chosen to sing the anthem on the Chevy Court stage at 9:58 a.m. and again at about 1 p.m. in the Toyota Coliseum on their performance day, which will be assigned at a later date. 

 

People are limited to one vote per person and are encouraged to share the competition with their Facebook friends to help their chosen candidate.

 

Winners will be announced on July 5. 

New York State Fair Offers Ticket Sale on Cinco de Mayo

Fans of the Great New York State Fair can get less expensive tickets to the fair as fair officials hold the annual Cinco de Mayo sale of a limited number of admission tickets at a special price, Acting Fair Director Troy Waffner announced today.

 

The sale takes place on Cinco de Mayo -- the fifth day of the fifth month -- and offers 5,555 tickets for $5. 

 

The sale begins at 5:55 a.m. Tickets are available only online through the fair's official ticket seller, etix.com, at http://www.etix.com/ticket/p/7893989.  

 

The tickets offered during this sale provide a 50 percent discount over the regular $10 admission price and is a dollar less expensive than the price charged during the regular advance sale period that begins in July.

Apple Association Collects Less Money at State Fair This Year

Did you have trouble finding the New York Apple Association booth at the State Fair this year?

I did. And I guess wasn't alone.

Seems state fair officials moved the association's booth to the other side of the Horticulture Building. For years, the apples have been across from the New York Maple Producers exhibit.

But this year, the maple producers exhibit expanded and took up that space with its education center. But there was no sign letting people know the apple folks moved to a new site.

“The New York Apple Association booth is a popular one for fairgoers. This year we moved it to equivalent space within the Horticulture Building, next to the most popular exhibit in the building, the Baked Potato booth, in order to provide space for an expanded, interactive display from the New York State Maple Producers," said fair spokesman David Bullard.. 

"It’s not uncommon to move the location of vendors and booths to accommodate various factors, including new or expanded displays,”  Bullard said.

Apple Association President Jim Allen said one reason why he believes people had difficulty finding the apple booth is less money was brought in through the sale of apple products at the exhibit.

He said the money raised through the sale of apples and apple products at the exhibit usually is more than $10,000. This year, it was less than $9,000.

All the money goes to the American Cancer Society.

3 More Days to Vote for New York State Fair as Country's Best

From the New York State Fair:

There are only three days left to vote for the Great New York State Fair as the Best State Fair in the country, announced Acting Fair Director Troy Waffner.

The Great New York State Fair is in the running for USA TODAY’s 2015 10Best Readers' Choice travel award contest, and New Yorkers and fairgoers are encouraged to continue to vote at http://www.10best.com/awards/travel/best-state-fair/.  

Voting ends at noon Monday, Sept. 28.

USA TODAY’s expert panel selected the Great New York State Fair as a contender for Best State Fair contest, which launched Aug. 31. The contest gave voters four weeks to vote for their favorite choice.

 
The direct link to vote is at http://www.10best.com/awards/travel/best-state-fair/great-new-york-state-fair-syracuse-n-y/.  A person can vote once a day for the run of the contest.  

Winners will be announced on 10Best at noon Friday, Oct. 2, then later on USA TODAY.

More Details on Expansion, Renovation at State Fairgrounds

Here is a more detailed story about renovations coming to the New York State Fairgrounds:

From the governor’s office:
 
Andrew Cuomo recently unveiled a sweeping $50 million redesign plan to transform the New York State Fairgrounds in Onondaga County into a year-round, premier multi-use facility that can attract more events and visitors from across the nation.
 
The plan includes a new multi-purpose exposition center with 110,000 square feet of flexible space, an expanded festival stage to bring in larger concerts, a larger Midway to accommodate more attractions and a 400-site RV Park, as well as various parking and pedestrian safety improvements.
 
The plan includes:
 
REMOVE THE GRANDSTAND AND MOTOR TRACK

The existing grandstand, which was originally constructed in 1972, is outdated and not designed to function as an outdoor concert venue, and is not equipped to meet the needs of modern acts.
 
Additionally, with the opening of Onondaga County’s Lakeview Amphitheater in close proximity to the fairgrounds, the region will already have a premier, state-of-the-art venue capable of hosting large concerts.
 
The motor track is used only once per year for the annual Super DIRT Week. Like the grandstand, removing the motor track will also create room for crucial enhancements and modern facilities that can be used for a wider variety of events, year-round.
 
Removal of both the grandstand and the motor track is projected to cost $3 million.
 
CONSTRUCT A NEW EXPO CENTER

The new Expo Center will be about 110,000 square feet, adding much-needed space that allows current shows to expand and new shows to be added in the future.
In addition to new concert and event space, the Expo Center will house new equestrian facilities. 
 
CONSTRUCT A LARGER, MODERN CHEVY COURT STAGE

The construction of a larger, state-of-the-art stage will strengthen the fair’s longstanding reputation as a leader among free, quality music festivals. The new stage and roofing system will be built to modern standards and offer the capacity for larger production shows with video walls, lighting and sound. 

Safety and security enhancements include a full camera system, electronic access controls, fencing, gates and proper parking locations for tour buses and production vehicles.
 
Additional seating will be added to increase audience capacity by 20 percent, to a total of more than 30,000.
 
Completion of the new Chevy Court Festival Stage is expected in July of 2016 at a construction cost of $4 million.
 
ENLARGE AND UPGRADE THE MIDWAY

Under the plan, the Midway will be expanded from 12.5 acres to nearly 16 acres and reoriented as the epicenter of the fairgrounds. 

During non-fair times, the new Midway will also allow for more organized parking for events, a much larger space for outdoor shows as well as an expanded camping area that will enable the Fairgrounds to continue hosting large rallies and camping shows.
 
Completion of the Midway enhancement is expected in July of 2016 at a construction cost of $2.5 million.
 
FRONT GATE
 
The front gate will be visually pleasing, with new streetscapes, seating, shade and other visitor amenities.
 
Additional improvements will allow for the creation of the “NY Experience” – a functional, park-like area that will highlight the past and future of New York state from perspectives that include its economic, cultural and historical significance. 

The NY Experience will be a living area designed to showcase facets of the Empire State each day during the Fair, such as through demonstration plots of New York specialty crops.
 
Completion of these improvements is expected in July of 2016, at a construction cost of $7.7 million.
 
CREAT A NEW, 400-SITE RV PARK

The plan includes the creation of a new, 400-site RV Park. This will include full camper hook-ups with 50/30/20 amp electric options, the infrastructure to support communications/fiber, water and sewer connections, as well as bathrooms and showers. 

Security improvements include a full camera system and a blue light system in select locations.

McCadam, Great Lakes Honored at State Fair Dairy Competition

From the New York State Fair:

When it comes to cheese, McCadam Cheese Co.'s aged cheddar stands alone. 

It not only won its category in the Great New York State Fair's annual Dairy Products Competition, it also earned the Grand Champion award.

McCadam, which was founded in Heuvelton, St. Lawrence County and now is manufactured in Chateaugay, Franklin County, took first and second place in the aged cheddar category, and it also earned first place honors in two other cheddar categories: current cheddar and super-aged cheddar. Great Lakes Cheese Co. of Adams was the runner-up in the current and super-aged categories.

"The high marks across the board for these products reflect not only the great diversity of dairy products available in New York state, but also the incredibly high quality of these products. These are all products that belong in every New Yorker's kitchen," said Acting State Fair Director Troy Waffner.

Among the highlights of the competitions:

• ​ Garelick Farms of Rensselaer earned a perfect score of 100 in the fluid milk category. Stewarts Processing and Upstate Niagara Cooperative tied for second with 96.3 points.
• Upstate Niagara Cooperative's sour cream earned the only other perfect score of the competition, with the product from HP Hood's Arkport plant finishing a single point behind.
• HP Hood swept the gold and silver medals in all three cottage cheese competitions, for full fat, low fat and nonfat cottage cheeses along with two of the three third place "award of excellence" designations.

Dairy products experts gathered recently at Stocking Hall on the Cornell University campus to judge entries in 21 categories, from goat cheese to sour cream to milk.  

Winners of the New York State Fair Dairy Products Competition were announced on Dairy Day at the Great New York State Fair.

Donate at Rainbow Milk Bar at the Fair to Provide Milk to Needy Families

 

From the New York State Fair:

For thousands of fairgoers, the annual trip to the Great New York State Fair isn’t complete without a stop at The Rainbow Milk Bar for a cup of 25-cent, ice-cold white or chocolate milk.  

Now, fairgoers can donate their spare change to the Great American Milk Drive and help ensure more families can get milk year-round, said Rick Naczi, chief executive officer of the  American Dairy Association and Dairy Council and State Fair Acting Director Troy Waffner. 

Through The Great American Milk Drive, dairy farmers and milk processors, in partnership with Feeding America, are helping to give much needed nutrient-rich milk to millions of hungry families through area food pantries and food banks.  

There is a nationwide shortage because milk is rarely donated.  

“Milk is one of the most highly requested items at food banks throughout the country,” Naczi said. “To help provide more milk to families who depend on these facilities, we are asking fairgoers to donate a quarter for every cup of milk they purchase. We’re calling this campaign “Get One, and Give One Too.” If just a fraction of the people that visit the Milk Bar donate, we’d raise $22,000 and that would buy a lot of milk.”

Donations to support the Great American Milk Drive will be accepted at every milk station at The Rainbow Milk Bar. All proceeds will be earmarked for milk purchases and distributed to food banks throughout New York. 

“The Rainbow Milk Bar is one of the fair’s most popular exhibits, and it’s become a tradition for families to stop by and get a cup of ice-cold milk," said Waffner. "It promotes the health benefits of milk and supports our dairy farmers. Now, Fairgoers can use their love of dairy to give back, and help get fresh, nutritious milk to other families in their communities.”

State Fair Offers Cookbook Filled with Winning Recipes

The New York State is offering a cookbook filled with recipes from people who have won cooking and baking competitions at the fair.

Open the new "Blue Ribbon Recipes: The Great New York State Fair" book and you'll find recipes judged to be amont the very best in New York state.

The 100-page cookbook filled with grand champion finalist recipes from 2006 to 2014 will be available for $15 at the History of the State Fair exhibit in the Art and Home Center, said State Fair Acting Director Troy Waffner.

Every year at the fair, amateur cooks from across the state submit daily recipes and samples in a wide variety of food categories. Most of the daily winners at the competition go on to compete in the Grand Championship on Labor Day.

"For many years, some of the best food on the fairgrounds has been behind the closed doors of the culinary judging area," Waffner said. 'Blue Ribbon Recipes' throws open and shares these wonderful recipes with everyone. I've already picked a couple that I'd like to try."

This year, 141 New Yorkers submitted 626 creations to the culinary competitions.  Judges sample each offering in the search for the very best.  Winners receive small cash prizes and ribbons that signify their achievement. 

New York State Fair Opens Next Week

If there’s anything that says late summer, it’s the Great New York State Fair.

Twelve days of animals, rides, music, fun, education and of course, food, at the Aug. 27 to Sept. 7 event in Geddes, just outside of Syracuse.

2014 State Fair butter sculpture

Probably the least exciting of those is education, but learning is a big part of the fair, according to Acting Director Troy Waffner.

Fair-goers often ask questions of farmers and other producers who show animals or items they grow at the New York State Fair — the first such event ever held in the United States, in 1841.

“It’s our mission to promote everything agriculture in terms of education,” Waffner said. “When I was a fair-goer, I didn’t come here to be educated, but if you tricked me into it, I could find out the most interesting things in the world.”

This year’s fair will offer several new agricultural exhibits for fair-goers and even farmers and producers to check out:

** Equine Avenue exhibit: an interactive demonstration that allows patrons to interact directly with horses, their owners, vets and nutritionists. In a tent outside the Toyota Coliseum.

** Canning demos in the demonstration kitchen. On Aug. 27 and 28, this will feature demonstrations on the best way to can homegrown or locally grown food.

** Sweet potatoes offered in the potato booth for $1. That's in the Horticulture Building.

2014 State Fair Dairy Day Celebrity Milkshake Contest

** A youth horse show in the coliseum on Labor Day.

** New stalls and renovation in the DVM Barn. Dave Bullard, assistant public information officer for the fair, said these improvements will make working in the barn much easier and more pleasant for exhibitors.

** Vegan delight. The first all-vegan/vegeterian food vendor will be in the International Building. Syracuse’s Strong Hearts Café will serve 100 percent vegan fare for breakfast, lunch and dinner and will offer its menu of more than 40 popular milkshakes from its restaurant on East Genesee Street in Syracuse and its satellite location on the Syracuse University hill.

** Gladiola competition. Anyone at the fair at 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 3 can join the new gladiola competition in the Horticulture Building. Fairgoers can try to make a gladiola bouquet arrangement in 10 minutes and then the audience will vote on their favorites.
 
**  War Dog Memorial. The unveiling of the new memorial honoring canines who have served in the military will be at 11 a.m. Sept. 3. The event will include a wreath laying by members of the military, assisted by Gold Star mothers, as well as brief memorial speeches from dignitaries. The memorial is at the Veterans Memorial in front of the

2014 State Fair maple winners

Horticulture Building.
 
** There will be no poultry exhibits due to concerns about the Avian bird flu. The flu has not been found in New York state, and state Agriculture and Markets officials want to keep it that way, so they canceled all poultry exhibits and competitions at county fairs and the state fair this year. 

** The piglets and sows will be back this year in the Swine Building. They were absent last year because of a problem nationally with Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea.
 

The most exciting of these new exhibits is the Equine Avenue. Waffner said there were comments in the past from fair-goers who were dismayed at not being able to get closer to all the horses for the International Horse Show.

Sheep at the 2014 State Fair

“They couldn’t get that close to them in the horse barns to see their beauty,” Waffner said. “With the horses outside on Equine Avenue, people will be able to pet them, take photos with them, paint them, and people who want to study equine science can check out all the breeds up close. Horses have a special allure, heritage and history.”

Another big change at the fair this year: the poultry building won’t contain any poultry.

The state fair and all county fairs in New York state canceled all bird shows and exhibits this year because of concerns about the Avian flu. 

None of the flu strain has been found in New York state, but the state Department of Agriculture and Markets wants to ensure that poultry in the state remain flu-free.

This also means the popular daily rooster crowing contest will not be held. The poultry building instead will house rabbits and cavies. The state fair is replacing the rooster contest with a rabbit-hopping demonstration on seven days.

There will be a special demonstration on Sept. 1 of combing and cutting fur from angora rabbits and spinning the fur into yarn to make hats and mittens.


The New York State Fair has operated since Sept. 29 and 30, 1841, except for 1942 through 1947, when the fairgrounds were used as a military base during World War II.

With state money given for the promotion of county fairs in 1841, the New York State Agricultural Society created the state fair, and more than 10,000 people attended that first year.

The fair moved around after that — to Albany, then to Rochester and other New York cities. But in 1890, Syracuse was chosen as the permanent site of the event.

This story originally ran in Empire Farm & Dairy magazine. If you're interested in more stories like this, subscribe to the magazine by sending $50 for a one-year subscription or $75 for two years to Empire Farm & Dairy, 260 Washington St., Watertown, NY  13601 
 

New York State Fair Selects Vegan-Vegetarian Vendor

The first vegan-vegetarian menu is coming to the New York State Fair this year.
 
Acting Fair Director Troy Waffner said Syracuse’s Strong Hearts Café was chosen from four proposals to provide food that would appeal to vegans and vegetarians. 

The restaurant’s stand will be in the International Building, which is next to the State Police exhibit at the fair.
 
“We are thrilled to have an operator of the quality and commitment of the Strong Hearts team as part of the family of vendors at the State Fair,” Waffner said. “I know this will be a home run for fairgoers, who come to the fair to find great new foods to taste.”
 
In addition to serving 100 percent vegan fare for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Strong Hearts offers more than 40 milkshakes at its popular restaurant on East Genesee Street in Syracuse and its satellite location on the Syracuse University hill.
 
The restaurant will offer some of its milkshake lineup at the fair and will create a new milkshake especially for the fair.
Strong Hearts’ menu also will include smoothies, salads, sandwiches, wraps and side dishes. And, in keeping with state fair tradition, will offer a deep-fried delicacy — vegan chicken wings.
 
“People are ready for these fun and healthy alternatives,” said Strong Hearts co-owner Joel Capolongo. “We know what people like and want, and we’re ready to prove it to the hundreds of thousands of visitors to the Great New York State Fair.  I know fairgoers are going to love this food.”
 
The effort to find a vegan/vegetarian food vendor is part of the fair’s ongoing effort to diversify its food choices. As openings occur in food vending spots, the fair seeks new vendors with diverse menus.
 
Surveys of fairgoers find year after year that the number one reason they go to the fair is for the food. There are about 200 food vendors at the New York State Fair.
 
The New York State Fair runs from Thursday, Aug. 27, to Monday, Sept. 7.

Avian Flu Ditches All Fowl Competitions at Fairs in NYS

From the state Department of Agriculture and Markets:

The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets has issued an order banning all live fowl competitions at the New York State Fair and at all county fairs in New York.

The order is the direct result of the continuing spread of strains of highly pathogenic avian influenza in the Midwest. 

“Avian influenza has not yet been detected in New York state, but it is a very serious threat to poultry and all breeds of fowl and is continuing to spread," said Ag and Markets Commissioner Richard Ball. 

"Despite the efforts of the best poultry health experts in North America, we do not fully understand the cause of the rapid spread of this virus. This commonsense step will help limit the spread of the influenza to other farms and chickens,” Ball said.

The ban covers all breeds of fowl, including chickens, pigeons, turkeys, pheasants, guinea fowl, bantam poultry, geese and ducks. Exhibitors who have already registered fowl for the 2015 New York State Fair will be contacted and will receive a refund of their entry fees.

“This is a disappointment to us as well as to fairgoers and our exhibitors, who look forward to this competition every year. But we believe people understand that we are stewards of the animals in our care and I know they understand that we’re doing what’s best for everyone, and especially for the birds,” said Acting Fair Director Troy Waffner.

The State Fair has already made plans to fill the space in the Poultry Barn normally used for displaying chickens with rabbits and cavies, and the daily rooster crowing contest will be replaced by a rabbit hopping demonstration on seven days. There will be a special demonstration on Tuesday, Sept. 1 of combing and cutting fur from angora rabbits and spinning the fur into yarn to make hats and mittens.

The Rooster Crowing Competition is one of the highlights of each day at the fair. The winners from each day of competition would square off at the end of the fair's run.

While the current strains of avian influenza circulating in the Midwest are extraordinarily deadly to birds, experts stress that the H5N2 and H5N8 strains are not a threat to humans. Officials also stress that chicken and eggs are safe to eat. 

The ban extends to all chartered county fairs and youth fairs in New York state. There are 45 county fairs and 6 chartered youth shows for the fair season that runs from June through October. 

“We believe the public will be very receptive to this. They know that we want to do the right thing.  We want to do what we can to prevent the spread of this disease to our local farms,” said Doug Hanno, President of the New York State Association of Agricultural Fairs and an official of the Lewis County Fair.     

Last year, sows with piglets were banned from the State Fair due to a relatively new virus known as Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus (PEDv), which has a high mortality rate among piglets.

Several states have banned poultry competitions and exhibitions at fairs, including West Virginia, Pennsylvania, North Dakota and Minnesota. Ohio has banned poultry entries from states affected by the virus outbreak and may consider a complete ban on competitions and displays.

 

State Fair Acting Director on How to Spend $50M

Check out this report http://www.cnycentral.com/news/story.aspx?id=1204672 from Channel 3 cnycentral about how the state plans to spend the $50 million earmarked for the State Fair.

Comment on New York State Fairgrounds Renovation Project May 6

News from the state Department of Agriculture and Markets:

The Great New York State Fair will host a public workshop from 6 to 8 p.m. May 6 at the state Fairgrounds as it begins the process of determining elements that will be part of the first major renovation of the fairgrounds in a century, acting Fair Director Troy Waffner said.

The workshop will take place in the Martha Eddy Room at the Art & Home Center on the Fairgrounds. The public is invited.

“We are committed to an open and transparent process in order to determine how to best use the land we have to accomplish Governor Cuomo’s goals of better promoting New York agriculture and increasing tourism at the Fairgrounds year round.   The Fair means so much to so many people and it’s important that their voices are heard.  I look forward to hearing from our constituency at this event and can’t wait to get the ball rolling on this once-in-a lifetime project,” said Waffner.

The meeting will be conducted by the lead consulting firm in charge of the project, M.J. Engineering and Land Surveying of Clifton Park. There will be a brief overview of the process to be used, followed by the listening session.  

It will begin with formal comments from stakeholder groups. Public comments will take place after the completion of formal comments. Members of the public who wish to speak will be asked to sign up at the door.  

Speakers will have three minutes to offer comments. The meeting will end promptly at 8 p.m. 

Members of the public who wish to comment on the project but cannot attend the hearing are welcome to send their comments to comment@agriculture.ny.gov. 

The fairgrounds hosts more than 100 private and public events each year, including large trade shows, vehicle and equipment sales, and equestrian and other animal-related events run by private vendors.

This will be the largest project carried out at the fairgrounds since the construction of its historic central buildings in the early 20^th Century. A key goal is to attract more people to the annual 12-day event, which is already one of the largest state fairs in the nation.  

The fairgrounds have called 375 acres of land in the Onondaga County town of Geddes their home since 1890.

The New York State Fair, operated by the state Department of Agriculture and Markets, runs this year from Aug. 27 to Sept. 7.

In addition to the annual New York State Fair, the Fairgrounds host dozens of agricultural events throughout the year, including some of the Northeast’s most prestigious horse and livestock shows.