The NYSAAF Agricultural Awareness program provides support to the local County Fairs to showcase New York’s best in agriculture and livestock.

Each year the program goal is to make funds available to fairs to create exhibits or facility improvements that support agriculture during their annual events. These funds enable the local fair to present something about New York agriculture with an emphasis on education and product promotion in the local area. With the support of the people, the local fair is the showcase.

These fairs are eligible for the program this year: Afton Fair, Hemlock Fair, Seneca County Fair, Broome County Fair, Greene County Youth Fair, Otsego County Fair, Franklin County Fair, Wyoming County Fair, Altamont Fair, Essex County Fair, Schaghticoke Fair, and Grahamsville Little World's Fair.

Here are the Ag Awareness Projects in 2025:

Allegany County Fair:
The funding will allow us to install a new swine wash rack area. It will be located at the far end of the Livestock Barn. The wash rack will improve drainage and manure handling for sanitation. A new walkway and ramp will be installed inside the barn to eliminate an 8" step for safer access to and from the wash bays, along with sorting gates for better animal handling.

Clinton County Fair:
We would like to purchase small ruminant panels and door kit for our sheep and goat barns. More small ruminant pens will allow for the safe housing for ruminants and will allow for easier access for people in wheelchairs and folks using infant/child strollers to walk throughout the barns.

Cortland County Jr Fair:
Our proposed project is to bring wool awareness and education to our fairgrounds. We aim to educate fair goers on the many breeds and species of wool and fiber animals within our county including but not limited to sheep, alpacas, llamas, goats and rabbits. We will provide education to fair goers during live and consistent demonstrations on fiber processing including shearing, cleaning and combing, and yarn and textile making. The project will be located in high traffic flow areas near the fairground’s restrooms OR in the Agricultural Corporation building. Location will be dependent upon expected weather conditions to ensure the safety of fiber and electronic equipment.

Delaware County Fair:
We propose to replace our aging and broken sound system in the horse area. This system provides sound to the arena, bleachers and barns. This is a much-needed upgrade. Currently we have issues reaching the barns and music in the ring can be a challenge. The new system will allow us to have more reliable system to ensure exhibitor participation and broadcast a better sound to those watching the show. This will also allow us to announce around the horse area and draw more people to the horse events.

Genesee Valley Breeder Association Fair:
We will have a tent that will display a local feed mill and there will be a demonstration by a local blacksmith. We will also have information for a local horse rescue organization and local equine veterinarian will be showcased as well.

Goshen Historic Track:
Our project is to purchase umbrellas for picnic tables we already have and also purchase a couple additional picnic tables with umbrellas for the fair attendees to sit in shade and watch the harness races. Our hope is to make a comfortable cooler area so people will sit and watch the Harness Horse Races and bring more visitors to enjoy watching the races.

Herkimer County Fair:
Our project will be in our established Ag Awareness building. Last year we started a complete clean out and reorganization of the building. It is in a great location located near the main entrance of our fairgrounds and close to the livestock barns. I have it organized in five sections to gain valuable information for the fairgoers. The biggest accomplishment that I am aiming for this year is to update and modernize each of the areas I have created in the building. I want to keep it cohesive to learning in every area while having all the information resonate with the public. I want to enhance and emphasize agriculture and the many great agricultural products we have in our county and state. We will be painting and adding shelving in some areas. Also we will be purchasing banners to showcase agriculture.

Jefferson County Fair:
Two displays will be designed and purchased, which will be combined to create an interactive booth at the Jefferson County Fair:

1. To highlight Jefferson County's agricultural history, CCE will design and purchase a customized display to provide visual context detailing the legacy of agriculture, allowing participants to explore key milestones in Jefferson County's farming legacy through interactive panels, artifacts, or digital storytelling.

2. To showcase modern and future agricultural practices, CCE will purchase a hands-on Enviroscape interactive display to demonstrate how sustainable land management and conservation practices support local farms.

Orleans County 4-H Fair:
Our market auction program has been thriving! We've jumped to 40 youth and more animals than any previous year this year. We are still small compared to many other fairs, but do have a need for additional gating, even with gating purchases we made in each of the last two years so we will be purchasing additional interchangeable gating for swine, goats and sheep

Tioga County Fair:
Our project is to provide 5 reader board signs using a large screen television in the Clover Leaf Café, Cattle Barn and Agriculture Building. These boards will be used to post show times of the agricultural shows as well as showcasing farming in Tioga County. These screens will be more efficient and easier to read than the chalkboards that have been used in the past.

Whatever your destination is throughout New York, you will find a County Fair which will peak your interest. Be sure to stop by and visit one of the 52 Fairs in New York. They will provide you and your family with a fun time, a positive experience and some insight into where your family’s food comes from, how it is grown, harvested and marketed. As people of this great State, we are proud to keep the tradition of agriculture and the State & County Fair “Standing Strong!”

Enjoy the Fair season, see you at a Fair!