Agricultural Awareness

“Going & Growing”

 Agriculture, New York State's #1 industry!  The NYSAAF Agricultural Awareness program provides support to the local county Fairs with respect to the promotion of New York agriculture. 

 Each year the program's goal is to make funds available to Fairs to create exhibits and facility improvements that support agriculture during their annual events.   These funds enable the local Fair to present something NEW about New York agriculture with an emphasis on education and promotions in the local area.  The current funding program runs for 2008 – 2011.   

2010 Ag Awareness programs participats include:

Caledonia Fair – Caledonia, NY – August 3 – 7.  Their exhibit will feature everything you need to know about cows and milk production.  In addition there will be a milking contest, interactive games and Fun Facts quiz area for the fair-going public.  It will be in immediate area of the Bee and Sheep Shearing displays.  Do you know where milk really comes from? 

Chautauqua County Fair – Dunkirk, NY – July 26 – August 1.  The Fair is planning to do public presentations regarding the Dairy Industry.  Topics will include milking cows, basic anatomy, processing milk and consumer dairy products.  This will be both visual and well as audible to assist in expanding the public knowledge of agriculture. 

Columbia County Fair - Chatham, NY – September 1 - 6. – Their plans include a new exhibit displaying and promoting production agriculture and farming in their respective county.  The display of products will be a Farm Stand, located in the “County Bounty” building.  Additionally, they will have cooking demonstrations using the regional products.

Fonda Fair - Fonda, NY – August 31 – September 6.  The Fonda Fair will implement a new question & answer stage area in their Ag Awareness building.  This will incorporate props, signs, appropriate personnel to be able to address question brought forth by the fair-goers. 

Genesee County Fair - Batavia, NY - July 20 - 24.  “Evolution of Butter”  The presentation will specifically show the basic cycle, from raw product to consumer products.  The exhibit will incorporate the milking parlor and show the milking process.  The exhibit is located in the Main Exhibit Hall as well as in the barns and milking parlor area. 

Gouverneur/St Lawrence County Fair - Gouverneur, NY – August 2 - 8.  “Agriculture Recycling!”  They plan on recycling ag plastics, a baling site to show the pubic how materials are recycled.  Additionally, they will show how local farmers are chopping newspaper to bedding.  Video technology will be part of the exhibit in addition to live demonstrations. 

Long Island Fair – Old Bethpage, NY – September 30 – October 3.  This truly unique Fair is planning an aqua-culture exhibit in conjunction with the Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery located adjacent to where the Fair is held each year.  There will be a live element to the exhibit as well as an educational component, on shell, fin, as well as cultivated (fish) crops for harvest. 

Niagara County Fair – Lockport, NY – August 4 - 8.  “Pick Niagara” will feature fruit production along the escarpment.  There will be displays of a variety of the products that are grown locally in the area.  They will feature a healthy look at New York agriculture. 

Ontario County Fair – Canandaigua, NY - July 27 - 31.  “Agriculture Alive and Well In Ontario County” will feature an area in near the livestock barns to showcase, a) Livestock of the Day, b) Technology Display and c) Ad Day Scavenger Hunt. You too can join in the fun!

Schoharie County Fair - Cobleskill, NY – July 30 – August 7.  The Sunshine Fair plans to build a tractor play yard for children as well as an interactive question and answer display.  This display will rotate throughout the Fair to remain current with activities which occur during the event.  A sign program for the fair going public with educational information will fill the Fairgrounds. I guarantee you will find something new you didn’t already know about New York’s agriculture.   

Steuben County Fair - Bath, NY – August 17 - 22.  This exhibit will be going back to some basics, offering soil testing for consumers during the Fair. They will be partnering with Extension and the Master Gardeners.  Additionally, they will hand out FREE seed packets in the spring and Fairgoers will have the opportunity to enter into competition during the Fair vegetables, etc, grown from those seed packets.  Image if you will, Home Grown in New York!

Wayne County Fair - Palmyra, NY – August 9 - 14. Their project will include new seating in the show ring and educational exhibits.  The exhibits will include a Century Farm exhibit and a Farmers Market where people can purchase locally grown products.  The goal is to create great public awareness of locally grown products in Wayne County. 

Yates County Fair – Penn Yan, NY – July 13 - 17.  Their Ag Awareness exhibit that will feature locally grown products.  The exhibit will be 90 X 20 and will offer fairgoers exposure to a variety of products; dairy, beef, wine & grapes, maple products, apples, vegetables, etc.  Each day will showcase different products and will offer free samples.  FFA (Future Farmers of America) students and Fair board members will be available to answer questions for the guest. 

Agriculture is very much alive and growing in New York State.  The County Fairs provide the public the very best showcase for locally grown and produced products.  The County Fairs strive to provide public education with regard to where New Yorkers food comes from, the fields and farms.  This summer take the family on a journey around the state and visit many of the great County Fairs.  You are guaranteed to have great family fun adventure.  You will certainly experience first hand on where the food you eat, the clothes you wear and the air you breathe originate.

“Enjoy the Summer Sunshine and the efforts of the New York farmer’s hard work!”