Loss of the State Fair Doesn't Mean Our Farmers Should Be Forgotten

 

 The inside of the Dairy Cattle Building usually is filled with dairy cows ready for showing.

 

By DEBRA J. GROOM

The New York State Fairgrounds is eerily quiet this week.

The crowds of happy fairgoers are missing. The jubilant cheers of people winning Midway prizes are absent. The laughter of children as they fly up and down on rides is gone. The wonderful smells of sausage, chicken and beef are nowhere to be found. And the glorious sounds of New York – mooing, oinking, neighing and cock-a-doodle-doing – are a memory.

The cancellation of the New York State Fair due to COVID-19 has left a hole in the hearts of many across the state. Farmers, vendors, 4-Hers, FFA members, exhibitors and fairgoers all are missing out on one of the – if not the – highlight of the summer.

During a recent stop at the fairgrounds, visitors saw just how lonely the place can be. It was Aug. 20, the day before the fair would have opened. The first-ever 18-day fair was set for Aug. 21-Labor Day. This is the second time the fair has been canceled – the first time was from 1942-47 during World War II. The fairgrounds actually was a military base during the war.

Normally the day before the fair opens is a rush of humanity and activity. Final touches being placed on booths. Animals being unloaded and given baths to ready them for shows. Building superintendents, vendors and others filing in and out of the administration building trying to fix problems and ask questions.

Aug. 20 – pretty much nothing. A few trucks driving around but that’s about it.

Oh, there was a press event at the pavilion behind Chevy Court. The American Dairy Association North East announced it was sponsoring a virtual butter sculpture. More about that later.

While the New York State Fair is 18 days of fun and trying to keep the waistline in check (this year was the first for an 18-day fair), it also is a special time for agriculture. The fair began back in 1841 as a way for farmers and producers across the state to show off their animals and crops so all of us would see the bounty of the Empire State.

The fair is an agricultural fair, run by the state Department of Agriculture and Markets. It is a time for farmers and producers to explain what they do to the non-agriculture people living in the state. It’s an educational venue and those in the agricultural field love nothing more to answer questions and show non-ag people what they do.

 No traffic or people can be seen outside the Exposition Center on the fairgrounds on Aug. 20.

 

That’s all being lost this year.

Some agriculture organizations are trying to keep their little bit of the fair alive virtually.

The Dairy Cow Birthing Center is always a highlight of the fair. People crowd the bleachers three times a day to see the miracle of life – a dairy calf being born.

Eileen Jensen, executive director of the New York Animal Agriculture Coalition which puts on the birthing center, said this year will feature a traveling birthing center, dubbed “Dairy on the Moo-ve,” and can be viewed every day on the Ag Coalition’s social media channels.

 

“’Dairy on the Moo-ve’ aims to showcase modern dairy farming, including the birth of calves, what it’s like to be a dairy cow, the many jobs on the farm and the technology that helps dairy farms produce nutrition and delicious milk every day,” Jensen said.

 

The traveling birthing center will include videos and content posted to the Ag Coalition’s social media, including live streams from birthing barns at each farm stop over the next eight weeks.

 

The first stop was at Venture Farms in Tully, Onondaga County. Views to the Ag Coalition social media already have seen the births of a few "uddermiracles," including one set of twins.

 

Here is where to catch “Dairy on the Moo-ve:”

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NYAnimalAg
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/nyanimalag 
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/NYAnimalAg    
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/NYAnimalAgricultureCoalition 

As mentioned earlier, the American Dairy Association North East is unveiling its virtual butter sculpture at 10 a.m. Sept. 1 on the dairy association Facebook page athttps://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=american%20dairy%20association%20north%20east.

Sculptors Marie Pelton and Jim Victor from Conshohocken, Pa., began work on the sculpture last week at the usual site -- the carousel-like refrigerated room in the middle of the Dairy Products Building. It takes about 10 days for it to be completed and the sculptors use 800 pounds of New York state butter to make their masterpiece.

“The fair and the butter sculpture mean so much to the people of New York,” said State Fair Director Troy Waffner. “The cancellation of the fair is such a loss for people. They will miss the animals, the rides and the food. For the fair workers, it’s a loss of morale. Onondaga County officials would say there’s the loss of tax revenue.”

“We know how much the fair means to New Yorkers and while we’re busy planning the greatest fair in our history for 2021, we are grateful to our longtime partners at American Dairy Association North East for creating an important part of the fair in a difficult year,” Waffner said.

Peggy and Lynn Murray, who run Murcrest Farm in the town of Champion on the border of Jefferson and Lewis counties in the North Country, said New Yorkers are going to miss all the fun aspects of the fair such as rides, food and games. But they also will miss the joy of seeing farm animals up close and personal and learning about how the animals are raised by the farmers.

“People love to see the cattle, goats, sheep,” said Lynn Murray, who with his wife and son Mark milk 1,200 Holsteins on their farm. “So many people make a point of visiting year after year.”

Peggy Murray, who is retired from Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County, said the butter sculpture always is a big draw at the fair. She said whenever she would enter the Dairy Products Building during the fair, she would see people lined up to take their photos in front of the sculpture.

“The dairy association is doing a good a job putting this on virtually so people can still see it,” Peggy Murray said. “But it’s sad. They are doing a good job, but it’s not the same.” 

Other events planned virtually by the dairy association include the milkshake contest at 10 a.m. Aug. 28, the Virtual New York State Dairy Princess Day at 10 a.m., Aug. 31 and the butter sculpture unveiling at 10 a.m. Sept. 1.

So, the fairgrounds is quiet. There are no youths winning ribbons for showing their prized animals or craft works. There is no apple booth where folks can buy a delicious New York apple. The New York State Maple Producers are missing, so there's no maple syrup, candy, cotton candy or ice cream to enjoy. There's no chance to see the wonderful bees and buy and taste some of the delicious honey they have made.

Perhaps, this loss of the fair this year will make New Yorkers realize what great agriculture they have here. Perhaps they will get out and support the farmers by going to a farmers market and buying fresh produce or ordering meat or eggs from a local producer. 

And then, they can talk up the products they have enjoyed, telling others how great we have it here in New York to be blessed with fresh and bountiful food grown by our neighbors. And in 2021, show up at the Great New York State Fair and have fun, ride some loop-de-loops, eat 'till your stomach is aching and say hi to all the farmers working hard for us each and every day.

 

SPOILER ALERT: Butter Sculpture Unveiled for 2017 New York State Fair

New York State Police working the State Fair

The 100th anniversary of the founding of the New York State Police is commemorated in 800 pounds of butter in this year's butter sculpture at the New York State Fair.

The sculpture, done annually by sculptors Jim Victor and Marie Pelton of Conshohocken, Pa., shows two state troopers with a calf named "Trooper" at the Dairy Cow Birthing Center at the fair. The other side of the sculpture shows a trooper helping a child at the fair.

The American Dairy Association North East, which is in charge of the butter sculpture each year, said in 1917, the first assignment for the newly formed New York State Police was the patrol the New York State Fair.

Young ladies from Onondaga County make dairy punch for those at the butter sculpture unveiling Aug. 22. Left in rear is Ruth Siau and front left is Elle McNamara. Right rear (with the larger crown) is county Dairy Princess Noie Skinner and front right is Paige McNamara. The McNamaras and Siau are dairy ambassadors.

The inspiration for the sculpture came from a photo taken in the Dairy Cow Birthing Center in 2016 of troopers Daniel Skiba and Michael Leggio with the newly born calf named "Trooper."

"Dairy farmers are honored to be a part of the New York State Troopers' 100th anniversary celebration," said Audrey Donahoe, of Atrass Farm in Clayville, Oneida County, "Agriculture is the cornerstone of the fair and so is the service provided by the New York State Police. We're proud to share that history."

"The butter sculpture is one of the attractions at the Great New York State Fair that is a must-see!," said Maj. Philip Rougeux of the state police's Troop D in Oneida. The New York State Police are extremely honored to have been chosen by the American Dairy Association North East to be part of the 2017 butter sculpture."

Pelton and victor worked on the sculpture for 10 days, using 800 pounds of salted butter from a plant in Batavia, Genesee County. 

After the fair closes on Labor Day, the sculpture will be taken apart and transported to Noblehurst Farms in Linwood, Livingston County, where it will be recycled in a methane digester -- along with food scraps and cow manure -- to create electricity and liquid fertilizer for crops.

The New York State Fair runs from Wednesday, Aug. 23 through Labor Day. The butter sculpture is in the Dairy Products building.

Olympians Celebrated in 2016 Butter Sculpture

By Debra J. Groom

Celebrating the Summer Olympics athletes is the theme of this year’s butter sculpture at the New York State Fair.

The Milk Life campaign sponsored Team USA in the recently completed Rio Olympics so this year’s sculpture pays tribute to Team USA and athletes from New York state.

The sculpture, done again this year by Jim Victor and Marie Pelton, of Conshohocken, Pa., shows a female basketball player, male volleyball player, male swimmer and female runner.

Celebrating the Olympians

Diana Dibble, vice president of consumer communications for the American Dairy Association North East, said milk is a natural nutrient powerhouse “that has always been on Olympians’ tables.”

“In fact, nine out of 10 (Olympians) said they drank milk while growing up,” she said.

Made of 800 pounds of salted butter from a milk plant in Batavia, Genesee County, the sculpture was  done over a period of 10 days. This is the 14^th year Victor and Pelton have sculpted the showcase of the Dairy Products Building.

The sculpture is one of the most popular sites to visit during the 12-day New York State Fair. It is in the Dairy Products Building at the New York State Fairgrounds in Geddes. 

The fair opens Thursday, Aug. 25 and goes through Labor Day, Sept. 5. This is the 48th annual butter sculpture at the state fair.

“On behalf of dairy farmers producing the nutrient-rich milk that helps fuel Olympic athletes, I am so pleased that Milk Life is a sponsor of Team USA,” said Chris Noble, vice president of Noblehurst Farms in Linwood, Livingston County.

“I’m thrilled that this year’s butter sculpture provides us the means to celebrate that sponsorship,” he said.

Noble also said once the fair is over, the butter will be brought to his dairy farm, mixed with food waste and manure and then put into the anaerobic digester on the farm to convert it to methane gas and electricity.

The American Dairy Association North East also is sponsoring a selfie contest during the New York State Fair. Go to the Dairy Princess Booth in the Dairy Products Building and get a patriotic red, white and blue mustache.

Put the mustache on and then snap a selfie with your favorite dairy product. Tag the photo #milkUSA and post on Instagram.

The grand prize winner will receive a Buffalo Bills prize pack. Second prize is an Apple watch and daily prizes of $50 gift cards for dairy products also will be awarded.

Go to www.adadc.com for more contest information and rules.

2015 Butter Sculpture Unveiled at the New York State Fair

"Thanks for the Milk, Moo York," the 2015 New York State Fair butter sculpture

You can call this “Great American Milk Drive – Part Two.”

This year’s New York State Fair butter sculpture was unveiled Wednesday morning and it is a thank you for everyone throughout New York who has donated milk to needy families through the Great American Milk Drive.

The sculpture is called “Thanks for the Milk, Moo York.” The 2014 State Fair sculpture kicked off the Great American Milk Drive, which resulted in more than 22,000 gallons of milk being donated in the state.

Made of 800 pounds of unsalted butter from O-At-Ka Milk in Batavia, the sculpture shows a dairy farmer, milk processor and retailer each holding gallons of milk. There also are key New York state elements behind them, such as Niagara Falls, the Statue of Liberty and the Carrier Dome.

The sculpture is one of the most popular sites to visit during the 12-day New York State Fair. It is in the Dairy Products Building at the New York State Fairgrounds in Geddes.

The fair opens Thursday, Aug. 27 and goes through Labor Day, Sept. 7. This is the 47th annual butter sculpture at the state fair.

“We live in one of the top producing milk states in the country, yet many families aren’t getting the nutritious, wholesome milk they want to provide for their children,” said dairy farmer Sarah Noble-Moag, of Pavilion. “The Great American Milk Drive helps draw attention to that need and makes it easy for people to donate, both in store and on line,” she said.

This is the 13th year artists Jim Victor and Marie Pelton, of Conshohocken, Pa., have worked on the sculpture. This is probably the tallest sculpture they have done, since the top of one of the milk bottles in the piece is only about a quarter inch from the top of the butter sculpture’s refrigerated room.

“It’s 77 inches high,” Ms. Pelton said. "In 2012, the sculpture about Greek yogurt during the summer of the Olympics was 2 inches below the grate.”

As part of the Great American Milk Drive and thanking people for their previous donations, the American Dairy Association and Dairy Council, which sponsors the butter sculpture, also is asking people to donate extra quarters when they buy their cup of milk at the fair’s Rainbow Milk Bar.

The additional donations will go toward purchasing milk for food banks and food pantries so needy families can obtain milk. The Rainbow Milk Bar also is in the Dairy Products Building and serves delicious, cold glasses of white or chocolate milk for 25 cents.

The Dairy Association and Dairy Council also is conducting an Instagram Selfie Contest to help spread the word about the need for milk donations. Take a selfie in front of the butter sculpture with your cup of milk from the Rainbow Milk Bar and tag it “givemilktoo.”

Each day of the fair, one winner will be selected to receive a $50 gift card for dairy products and a $50 donation will be made to a local food bank to help it purchase milk.

One second prize winter will win an Apple Watch. And one grand prize winner will receive an Ultimate Buffalo Bills Fan Weekend package, including access to pre-game practice, an overnight hotel stay in Buffalo and four club tickets to watch the Bills take on the Houston Texans.

Go to www.adadc.com for more contest information.

State Fair Butter Sculpture Celebrates Yearround Production of Milk

Milk is one of the only farm products produced yearround in New York state and this year's New York State Fair butter sculpture pays homage to that fact.

The sculpture was unveiled Wednesday morning in the Dairy Products Building at the New York State Fairgrounds in Geddes. 

The fair opens its 12-day run Thursday, Aug. 22.

Made of 800 pounds of unsalted butter from O-At-Ka Milk in Batavia, the sculpture shows children in the four seasons of New York, eating and drinking dairy products while a cow Statue of Liberty holding an ice cream torch and wheel of cheese looks down on them all.

Also shown is Niagara Falls, city skyscrapers and majestic mountains such as the Adirondacks and Catskills. The four children are an ice skater drinking hot chocolate, a boy going to school eating some cheese, a girl in a bathing suit eating yogurt and a boy with flowers drinking a smoothie.

"It was a lot of work," said artist Jim Victor, of Conshohocken, Pa. "I don't know if it was the hardest I've ever done, but it was one of the most difficult."

Victor and Marie Pelton, also of Conshohocken, have created the State Fair's sculpture since 2003. This year's creation is the 45th annual butter sculpture at the state fair.