It's County Fair Time!!!

With summer vacation comes one very important event: the annual county fair.

The county fair season in New York State is up and running with the start this week of the Goshen Racing Fair and the Cortland Youth Fair.

More than 50 county and youth fairs will run from the July 4 weekend through early late September, closing out the season at the Long Island Fair Sept. 15-17 and Sept. 22-24.

The Jefferson County Fair in Watertown is celebrating its 200th anniversary this year. The fair, running from July 11-16, is the longest consecutively running fair in the United States.

County fairs across New York state provide fairgoers with family-friendly fun, great music and food, but also a unique opportunity to learn about local agriculture, including where our food comes from.

"Every summer, millions of New Yorkers gear up for their local county fair and take part as exhibitors, competitors and visitors," said state Agriculture Commissioner Richard Ball. 

"We have a great story to tell about our farmers and the hard work they do, and the county fairs provide New Yorkers a first-hand opportunity to learn about our vital agriculture industry," Ball said.

Fairgoers can find a county fair in all 10 regions of the state. A listing of  county fairs can be found at http://www.nyfairs.org/Fairsbydate.htm

County Fairs Eligible for State Money for Fair Improvements

From GOV. ANDREW CUOMO’S OFFICE
 
A total of $5 million is being awarded to county and youth fairs across the state through the Agricultural Fairgrounds Infrastructure Improvement Program. 
 
Fifty-six local fairs can receive more than $89,000 to offset the cost of improvement and renovation projects, including new construction. This is the first time in nearly a decade that the state’s more than four dozen local fairs will receive critical infrastructure improvement funds.
 
“These fairs are a part of New York’s rich tradition and help showcase the pride and heritage of communities in every corner of this great state,” said Gov. Andrew Cuomo. “These investments will help these fairs attract more visitors, raise the profile of local vendors and businesses, and help spur economic growth across New York.”
 
The $5 million has been divided equally among the state’s local fairs. Each fair will be eligible for an award of $89,285. To receive the funding, fairs must submit the scope of work and estimated budget for proposed projects.
 
Projects must be submitted to the state Department of Agriculture and Markets, which is administering the program.  The funding can be used to build, repair, replace, acquire or install fairground buildings, facilities or equipment that are used to house or promote agriculture. 
 
The department will contact local fairs with instructions on how to submit projects for proposals in the coming weeks. 
 
Once projects are approved, a contract will be developed and completed through the state Grants Gateway. Projects must be finished and the awarded funds must be spent by March 31, 2021. 
Any money remaining after that date will be divided equally among the awardees who can then submit plans for additional projects.
 
“For years, many of the state’s local fairs struggled to make the necessary improvements to stay up-to-date and attractive to visitors,” said Agriclture and Markets Commissioner Richard Ball. “This funding will help mitigate those challenges and provide better opportunities to spotlight the state’s diverse and exceptional agricultural community.”
 
 “Our state’s local fairs are more than just places to go to be entertained, they also provide opportunities for people to learn about the importance of agriculture through everything from seeing farm animals firsthand to enjoying local foods,” said state Sen. Patty Ritchie, R-Oswegatchie, chair of the Senate agriculture committee. “By providing local fairs with these resources, we are better positioning them to increase attendance, highlight New York’s leading industry and boost the economies in the regions where they are located.”
 
 “New York state’s county and local youth fairs are a showcase for local agriculture; they provide family fun and entertainment and positive development opportunities for youth through participation and competition, while boosting the local economy,” said Assemblyman William Magee, D-Nelson, chair of the Assembly agriculture committee. “This well-deserved and much needed funding will go a long way toward maintaining and improving the critical infrastructure of our local fairs.”
 
“Our local county fairs have been tradition for generations of families. Mom and dad bring their kids to enjoy the fair as their mom and dad brought them years before,” said Gary Newkirk, president of the New York State Association of Agricultural Fairs. “Most of the fairs in New York have been around for over 100 years, several over 175 years.  Unfortunately, with that comes aged infrastructure. This money will be like a breath of fresh air to allow our fairs to keep up this great tradition, continue to provide great entertainment, build family memories and provide an economic impact to local communities.”

Birds Will Be Back at State Fair and County Fairs This Summer

An exhibit at the State Fair in 2014

News from the state Department of Agriculture and Markets:

State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball on May 31 announced the end of the ban on all live fowl competitions and exhibits at the Great New York State Fair and at all county fairs in New York.  

The first poultry show at the state Fairgrounds since the ban took place will be at the fairgrounds this coming weekend.

The state Department of Agriculture and Markets issued the ban in June 2015 to prevent the spread of strains of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), which killed millions of birds across the country in 2014-2015 and was confirmed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as being the worst outbreak of HPAI in U.S. history.   
 

“New York took an aggressive approach to preventing the spread of avian influenza and it paid off,” Ball said. “I am very proud to say that thanks to the cooperation of farmers, suppliers, distributors, and live bird markets, as well as the hard work of the Department’s Division of Animal Industry, the outbreak did not affect a single bird in the state and we look forward to their return at fairs this summer.”

“Lifting this ban was possible due to the efforts of the poultry industry, here in New York and throughout the U.S., to stop the spread of HPAI and to improve biosecurity practices. We are indebted to state and federal animal health officials who contained HPAI in the Midwest," said state Veterinarian Dr. David Smith.

"While we are confident the threat has diminished and bird competitions can resume, it’s important to note that the virus causing HPAI may arise any time, so our producers must remain vigilant and continue to adhere to the best practices for preventing the spread of this disease,” Smith said.

The Great New York State Fair is accepting entries for its poultry competitions and exhibits.  Exhibitors can register their animals by going to http://nysfair.ny.gov/competitions/how-to-enter/ this link.

In 2014, about 1,200 poultry and pigeons were brought to the fair for various competitions and exhibits. The ban has also been lifted for all chartered county fairs and youth fairs in New York State. 

There are 45 county fairs and six youth shows for the fair season, which runs from June through October. 

Oswego County Fair President Carol Sweeney said the poultry will be back at the annual county fair in Sandy Creek, but birds will be checked out and tested by a vet before entering the fairgrounds.

“Our fairgoers and our exhibitors look forward to these competitions every year and we are excited to bring them back. They are not only fun, but also an important educational opportunity for thousands of Fair visitors each year," said Acting Fair Director Troy Waffner.

For more information, visit the state Department of Agriculture and Markets website at www.agriculture.ny.gov

How You Can Tell Your Kids Are Into the Fair

Check out this great blog entry.

https://rootsandladders.wordpress.com/2015/03/13/you-know-you-are-a-fair-kid-when/

Let's Go to the Fair!!!

The county fair season in New York State is up and running with the start this week of the Oswego County Fair in Sandy Creek.

The 158th Oswego County Fair runs through Sunday. More than 50 county and youth fairs will run from July through early October, closing out the season at the Long Island Fair Sept. 25 to 27 and Oct. 2 to 4.

County fairs across New York State provide fairgoers with family-friendly fun, great music and food, but also a unique opportunity to learn about local agriculture, including where our food comes from.

"Every summer, millions of New Yorkers gear up for their local county fair and take part as exhibitors, competitors and visitors," said state Agriculture Commissioner Richard Ball. "We have a great story to tell about our farmers and the hard work they do, and the county fairs provide New Yorkers a first-hand opportunity to learn about our vital agriculture industry."

Fairgoers can find a county fair in all 10 regions of the state. A listing of  county fairs can be found at
 http://www.agriculture.ny.gov/AD/County_Youth_Fairs.pdf