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New York’s Dairy Products and Industry on Display
The 2021 Great New York State Fair will hold its annual Dairy Day celebration with a full slate of events and opportunities for fairgoers to enjoy New York’s high-quality dairy products. Held Thursday, August 26, Dairy Day includes a variety of activities to educate guests about the State’s largest agricultural sector and to recognize New York’s leading dairy processors.
State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, “We’re so glad to be back at the Great New York State Fair this year to celebrate the tradition of Dairy Day, which goes back more than 40 years. Dairy Day is always a favorite among fairgoers, giving our dairy industry the opportunity to showcase the wide array of amazing dairy products made right here in New York State -- from a simple and refreshing, cold 25-cent glass of milk, to cheese, yogurt, ice cream, and more – and giving our visitors a chance to learn about our state’s largest agricultural industry.”
Fair Director Troy Waffner said, “We invite fairgoers to join in the many fun and educational events that we host on Dairy Day – from the milkshake contest and our famous Butter Sculpture, to our milk bar and the fan-favorite Dairy Cow Birthing Center. Throughout Dairy Day, and for the run of the Fair, visitors can learn about all aspects of dairy as we celebrate New York State’s largest agricultural sector and enjoy the many delicious foods and beverages that our dairy farmers and processors make every day.”
Dairy Day will feature several events and activities to showcase New York State’s dairy industry. The annual Awards Ceremony will begin at 10:00 a.m. and is being held virtually this year. Those interested in attending can access the ceremony on WebEx. As part of the ceremony, the Dairy of Distinction, Cheese, Fluid Milk, and the PRO-DAIRY Agriservice Awards will be presented. Products winning the Cheese and Fluid Milk awards will be showcased in the display cooler next to the Butter Sculpture in the Dairy Products Building.
On the Fairgrounds, visitors can enjoy family fun and educational activities, including the Undeniably Dairy milkshake contest, where media teams from Central New York will compete to see who can create the tastiest milkshake. Across from the Chevy Court Pavilion, fairgoers can enjoy a variety of dairy products at the Milky Bun bar and see the famous Butter Sculpture in the Dairy Products Building. The Fair’s 53rd Annual Butter Sculpture, created by American Dairy Association North East and sponsored by Wegmans Food Markets Inc., was revealed on August 19, the day before the Fair opened. It will be on display in the Dairy Products Building during all 18 days of the Fair.
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 Princesses and buy a cup of perfectly chilled 25-cent white or chocolate milk at the Milk Bar.
Visitors can witness live births of baby calves in the Dairy Cow Birthing Center, where more than 100 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.
Additionally, the Dairy Cattle Barn will be open to visitors. The barn houses all the dairy cattle showed at the Fair, and offers a chance for fairgoers to observe cows being milked and to learn how milk gets from cow to glass.
Eileen Jensen, Executive Director of the New York Animal Agriculture Coalition, said, “The New York Animal Agriculture Coalition is excited to celebrate Dairy Day at the 8th annual Dairy Cow Birthing Center. During your visit to the 2021 New York State Fair, you’ll have the opportunity to witness the miracle of life as we hope to welcome two uddermiracles into the world each day. The Dairy Cow Birthing Center allows fairgoers to converse with real-life farmers about life on the farm and to learn more about the New York dairy industry.”
Rick Naczi, CEO of American Dairy Association North East, said, “We’re pleased to take part in Dairy Day, honoring the state’s hardworking dairy farmers who ensure an ample supply of fresh, wholesome milk. We encourage fairgoers to come to the Dairy Products Building to check out the must-see annual Butter Sculpture and stop at our new ‘Milk Moves Me’ booth where you can visit with Dairy Princesses, join in the fun with our interactive photo booth, and enter to win some great prizes - all brought to you by New York’s dairy farmers.”
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 3,600 dairy producers that produce over 15 billion pounds of milk annually, making New York the nation’s fourth 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 is America’s third largest state fair. The Fair showcases the best of New York agriculture, provides top-quality entertainment and is a key piece of New York State’s CNY Rising strategy of growing the Central New York economy through tourism. Fair attendance is up more than 46% since the beginning of more than $120 million in investments, with 1.33 million people attending the Fair in 2019. The 2021 Fair runs from August 20 to September 6.
The New York State Fairgrounds is a 375-acre exhibit and entertainment complex that operates all year. Find the Great New York State Fair on its website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and enjoy photos from the Fair on Flickr. Also, New Yorkers are invited to send their ideas for the Great New York State Fair to statefairideas@agriculture.ny.gov.
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