The Great New York State Fair Highlights New York’s Dairy Industry as Part of Dairy Day

New York’s Dairy Products and Industry on Display Through Several Special Events and Exhibits

Undeniably Dairy Shake-Off Milkshake Contest Begins at 10:30 a.m. in Chevy Court Pavilion

Dairy Day Award Breakfast Scheduled to Honor Competition Winners and Contributors to Dairy Industry 

The 2024 Great New York State Fair has a full itinerary of events and educational opportunities for fairgoers to celebrate New York’s diverse, high-quality dairy industry as part of Dairy Day on Thursday, August 29. Now in its 47th year, this annual tradition features a variety of activities to educate fairgoers about the State’s largest agricultural sector, recognize New York’s top dairy farmers and processors, and sample the very best of New York dairy.

State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, “What better way to highlight our world class dairy industry and bring fairgoers a little closer to the dairy community than a full slate of events and educational outreach at The Great New York State Fair. Dairy Day gives us all the perfect opportunity to sample New York’s finest milk, ice cream, cheese, and so much more, and learn more about how our milk is produced and processed, from farm to table.  We hope fairgoers will join us for a fantastic day at the Fair on Dairy Day and help us raise a glass of milk in honor of this incredible industry.”

Every year, Dairy Day features several events and activities to highlight New York State’s dairy industry, and this year is no exception. Dairy Day kicks off in Daniella’s Seafood and Pasta House with the annual Dairy Day Breakfast, which recognizes honorees with the Dairy of Distinction Awards, the PRO-DAIRY Service Awards, and the winners of the New York State Dairy Products Competition. Then, fairgoers can check out the winners of the competition in a slideshow presentation in the Dairy Products Building near the Butter Sculpture.

At 10:30 a.m. at the Chevy Court Pavilion, media teams from Central New York will “shake it up” in a competition to see who can create the best looking and most delectable milkshake in the Undeniably Dairy Shake-Off Milkshake Contest.  Commissioner Richard A. Ball will be on hand to help with judging of the winning milkshake.

While they’re in The Dairy Products Building, fairgoers are encouraged to admire the Butter Sculpture, sculpted by artists Jim Victor and Marie Pelton of Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, who constructed the sculpture using more than 800 pounds of butter from O-AT-KA Milk Products in Batavia, New York. This year’s theme is “Dairy: Good for you. Good for the Planet.” and depicts a family relaxing on the bank of a river on one side while showing a dairy farmer planting a tree on the other side, highlighting one of the many ways dairy farmers protect the planet while producing nutritious milk. Now in its 56th year, The Butter Sculpture, presented by American Dairy Association North East, was revealed on August 20, the day before The Fair officially opened to the public. Sponsored by Wegmans Food Markets Inc., it will be on display through the Fair.

Fairgoers are also encouraged to participate in a fun, interactive social media exercise where they can see what they’d look like as a Butter Sculpture. By scanning a QR code, which can be found on the bottom of the Fair Map and on signage throughout The Dairy Products Building, fairgoers can cue up a “Butterizer” filter, which will transform their face into a masterpiece sculpted from butter. Fairgoers can then share the results on social media using the hashtags, #NYSFair and #ButterizeMe.

This year, The Fair features a never-before-seen exhibit as the New York Animal Agriculture Coalition debuts the Mobile Dairy Experience – a 53-foot immersive educational experience that demonstrates the processes behind dairy production, the importance of environmental stewardship in agriculture, the economic impact of the dairy industry, and so much more. The Mobile Dairy Experience is open daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and is located next to the Dairy Cow Birthing Center.

Fair Director Julie LaFave said, “Dairy Day is the perfect opportunity for The Fair to highlight the importance of New York’s largest agricultural sector and educate fairgoers on how dairy products that we use daily find their way to our tables. From milkshake contests to the state-of-the-art, one-of-a-kind Mobile Dairy Experience, Dairy Day is a celebration of our dairy producers and processors and we’re thrilled to showcase their work.”

Fairgoers visiting the Dairy Products Building will also be able to sample and purchase a variety of cheeses from across the State, as well as products from NYS Grown & Certified processors. Fairgoers will also have the chance to meet the State and county Dairy Ambassadors and buy a cup of perfectly chilled 25-cent white or chocolate milk at the Milk Bar, a beloved tradition at the New York State Fair. Run by Cornell Cooperative Extension, the Milk Bar will serve white and chocolate milk, from Upstate Farms Dairy, on tap every day during the Fair. On the final weekend of the Fair, strawberry milk will be available for the fourth year in a row.

This year marks the 11th anniversary of another fan favorite activity at the Fair: the Dairy Cow Birthing Center, where visitors can learn more about the dairy industry by watching live births of baby cows. More than 200 farmers, veterinarians, business representatives, and agricultural students volunteer to assist with the births and explain the process to the public. The exhibit also offers calves for petting and educational exhibits about the dairy industry. The Dairy Cow Birthing Center is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. The Dairy Cow Birthing Center also offers a live web stream, and a text messaging option to be notified when a birth is about to happen.

The Dairy Cattle Barn, which houses all the dairy cattle showed at the Fair, will also be open to visitors. Here, fairgoers may observe cows being milked and learn how milk gets from cow to glass. The Dairy Cattle Barn is open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and from Friday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. On Labor Day, all barns and buildings close at 9 p.m.

John Chrisman, CEO of American Dairy Association North East said, "We’re honored to be a part of Dairy Day, which recognizes the invaluable contributions of the State's dairy farmers. We’re looking forward to hosting the ‘Undeniably Dairy Shake-off’ media milkshake competition and encourage everyone to come to the Dairy Products Building to see the impressive Butter Sculpture."

Eileen Jensen, Executive Director of the New York Animal Agriculture Coalition said, “The New York Animal Agriculture Coalition (NYAAC) is looking forward to showcasing many aspects of the dairy industry on Dairy Day at the State Fair. We work with some incredible dairy farmers who will spend their time visiting with fairgoers at the newly launched Mobile Dairy Experience and the fan-favorite Dairy Cow Birthing Center. Visitors can look forward to not only meeting a farmer but witnessing the miracle of life and engaging with the journey of milk from farm to table.”

Daniel Welch, Executive Director of Cayuga County Cornell Cooperative Extension said, “CCE Cayuga is excited to be operating the milk bar! Cayuga County is the number one milk producing county in New York State and is ranked 27th nationally for milk production. The milk bar is a great venue for teaching consumers about milk in New York State, while developing the next generation of leader and managers for our dairy sector.

Victoria Giarratano, Assistant Director, Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community Development for Cornell Cooperative Extension said, “Cornell Cooperative Extension is proud to support the Milk Bar initiative at the Great NYS Fair!  It is not just about the milk, it is an opportunity to "Grow Tomorrow's Workforce". Youth are part of an educational program, learning about the dairy industry and gaining workforce skills that will carry into future careers.”

Kevin Ellis, CEO of Upstate Niagara Cooperative, Inc. said, “We are proud and honored to play a key role in the butter sculpture and the Milk Bar each year at the New York State Fair. Our commitment to quality shines through at every stage, from the fresh milk provided by our dedicated dairy farmers to the rich butter crafted by our skilled team members and transformed into art at the fair. We remain dedicated to nourishing life, both locally and beyond, and look forward to carrying on this cherished tradition for many years to come!”

About the Dairy Industry in New York 

New York’s dairy industry is a critical sector of the state’s economy and as its leading agricultural sector, dairy accounts for approximately one-half of New York’s total agricultural income. New York State has nearly 3,200 dairy producers that produce over 15 billion pounds of milk annually, making New York the nation’s fifth largest dairy state. New York’s unique and talented dairy producers and processors provide significant contributions to New York’s agriculture industry, the economy, and to the health of our communities.

About The Great New York State Fair 

Founded in 1841, The Great New York State Fair showcases the best of New York agriculture, provides top-quality entertainment and is a key piece of the state’s CNY Rising strategy of growing the Central New York economy through tourism. It is the oldest state fair in the United States, and the third largest fair in the country. The Fair runs now through Monday, September 2.

The New York State Fairgrounds is a 375-acre exhibit and entertainment complex that operates all year. Audiences are encouraged to learn more about The Great New York State Fair online, and follow the fun on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Guests are invited to see photos from the Fair on Flickr and ideas are always welcome. New Yorkers are encouraged to send suggestions via email to statefairideas@agriculture.ny.gov.

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