The New York Department of Agriculture and Markets, with support from the Farm Journal Foundation, the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) Foundation, and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Onondaga County announced that the New York Voice of the Farmer Garden will feature several new interactive components at the 2024 Great New York State Fair. The garden, which opened at the 2023 Great New York State Fair, has been expanded this year to include new crops, such as hops, guest speakers, demonstrations, videos, children’s activities, and more.
New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, “Since its very first opening day in 1841, the Great New York State Fair has always been rooted in agriculture. While the Fair has evolved over time, we’re proud to say that it remains a cornerstone of New York State’s rich agricultural heritage, providing fairgoers an exciting space to learn about our industry. We’re excited that the Voice of the Farmer Garden has expanded so much in the last year alone, now offering visitors from all corners of the state and beyond opportunities to engage with our hardworking agricultural community and explore the wide variety of crops and food products that we produce right here in our own backyard.”
New York State Fair Director Julie LaFave said, “We so excited to share our new additions to the New York Voice of the Farmer Garden this year at the Great New York State Fair. At the end of the day, it’s all about uplifting and showcasing New York’s tremendous agricultural community, and this exhibit does just that. This year, our visitors will be able to connect directly with our farmers and producers with new, exciting presentations featuring guest speakers from every corner of this important industry in our state. We’re thankful to the Department and State Fair staff, and all of our partners who helped make this happen.”
Tricia Beal, Chief Executive Officer of Farm Journal Foundation, said, “The mission of the Voice of the Farmer Garden is to showcase U.S. agriculture’s impact and inspire a new appreciation for our food system among consumers. We are excited to kick off the Voice of the Farmer Garden in New York, which is a powerhouse when it comes to food and farming and makes significant contributions to the U.S. economy, sustainability, and food security.”
David Skeval, Executive Director of CCE Onondaga, said, “We are so proud of our continuing development of the Voice of the Farmer Garden at the Great New York State Fair. Through the invaluable support of the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, our incredible staff and Master Gardener Volunteers at CCE Onondaga will be able to bring education about local agriculture to the over one million Fair visitors a year. Through education, our residents can build a true sense of gratitude for the abundance of healthy foods we produce with our rich soils and rich farming history. This gratitude and awareness are important in supporting this enormous part of our local and State economy and we hope to elicit a strong sense of stewardship for our resources in all who enjoy the harvest, young and old.”
Senator Michelle Hinchey, Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, said, “New York agriculture is the food on our plates and the drinks on our tables. One of the best ways we can support this vital industry is by educating people about where our food comes from and why a strong local food system matters. The New York Voice of the Farmer Garden at the NYS Fair is an exciting, first-of-its-kind exhibit that connects those dots between farmers and fairgoers, and this year’s expansion is key to showcasing New York ag and upholding the State Fair’s nearly 200-year tradition of celebrating our agricultural heritage.”
Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo, Chair of the Assembly Agriculture Committee, said, “The Voice of the Farmer Garden is a unique way for fairgoers to learn more about New York’s rich and diverse agricultural community. The Garden was a hit in its inaugural year, and I’m looking forward to seeing the new interactive features they have planned. Learning directly from NY’s hardworking farmers and producers helps everyone gain a greater appreciation for what it takes to bring food from farm to table. Thank you to all who worked so hard to establish the Farmer Garden at the Great New York State Fair.”
The New York Voice of the Farmer Garden opened at the Great New York State Fair in 2023, becoming the very first statewide garden of its kind to open at a state fair in the U.S. The garden, which is located across from the Expo Center near the Goat Pavilion and kitty-corner from the Family Fun Zone, is a living, interactive learning space for visitors to see many of the major crops grown in New York.
It features over 35 varieties of vegetable crops, herbs, fruits and pollinator plants. Visitors can learn about NYS state agriculture on a walking tour with QR codes that, when scanned on their phones, link to videos provided by Farm Journal Foundation and CCE Onondaga of farmers and others in the food supply chain telling the story of agriculture in New York and around the country. In the CCE tent, visitors can speak with Master Gardner Volunteers and CCE Onondaga staff, who planted and maintain the exhibit. Fairgoers will also be able to explore a newly added map of prime soils and posters about Farmland Protection and the NYS Agricultural Census.
Our youngest fairgoers will also be able to once again enjoy last year’s popular interactive scavenger hunt by visiting the shelled corn wading pool containing tokens to learn about a crop and win a prize! This year’s garden also adds new and exciting activities for kids of all ages, including a more in-depth “Quest in the Garden” for teenagers to locate and describe plants in the garden that are foods they eat, a toddler potting bench with soil and seeds, and a toddler picnic table with vegetable matching games.
This year, the garden will also feature several added interactive presentations, demonstrations, and discussions featuring guest speakers from numerous agricultural organizations, including a presentation on hops, the newest addition to the garden’s diverse array of crops. The schedule of events is listed below, and is also available on the Fair’s newly launched Voice of the Farmer Garden webpage.
- From the Farm to the School: Learn how local farm products get to school lunch trays in this interactive demo with Lizzy Cooper, CCE Harvest NY
- Wednesday, August 21, 2024, 11:00 a.m.
- Celebrating Careers in Agriculture with Richard Ball New York State Commissioner of Agriculture
- Thursday, August 22, 2024, 11:00 a.m.
- Experience Hops! Sensory Panel and Tasting with Adam Kryder, Hop Growers of New York Association
- Thursday, August 22, 2024, 11:30 a.m.
- Step inside the Hive! Anatomy of a Hive Demo with Ray Lowe, Hiwire Honey
- Friday, August 23, 2024, 11:00 a.m.
- Cut Flower Farming for Profit! Claire Collie, Owner of Fernwood Flower Farm & Stephanie Brainard Owner of Brainard Farmette will demonstrate cut flower growing techniques used on their cut flower farms.
- Tuesday, August 27, 2024, 11:00 a.m.
- The latest Irrigation Technology for Vegetable Farms Demo with Nolan Reeves, Reeves Farms
- Wednesday, August 28, 2024, 1:00 p.m.
- Eggs-cellent! Egg Grading and Sorting Demo with Christina Hudson from Hudson Egg Farms
- Thursday, August 29, 2024, 11:00 a.m.
- An Apple a Day … New York State Apple Association
- Friday, August 30, 2024, 11:00 a.m.
- Culturally Important Crops in Central New York with Jacob Gigler-Caro and Manika Gautam, Salt City Harvest Farm.
- Monday, September 2, 2024, 11:00 a.m.
About the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets
The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets’ mission is to promote New York State agriculture and its high-quality and diverse products, foster agricultural environmental stewardship, and safeguard the state’s food supply, land, plants, and livestock to ensure the viability and growth of New York’s agricultural industries.
About Farm Journal Foundation
Farm Journal Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to achieving global food security by sustaining modern agriculture’s leadership role and ability to meet the vital needs of a growing population. The organization works to advance this mission through key issue areas, including global food and nutrition security, conservation and sustainability, rural development, and agricultural research and innovation. To learn more, visit www.farmjournalfoundation.org.
About the NASDA Foundation
The NASDA Foundation is the only educational and research organization that directly serves the nation’s state departments of agriculture. NASDA Foundation’s mission is to enhance American food and agricultural communities through education, outreach, and research. The NASDA Foundation’s purpose is to nourish people and communities while serving as the stewards of environment and public trust with the vision being that agriculture leads the way towards a healthy and resilient world.
About Cornell Cooperative Extension of Onondaga
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Onondaga County is one of 58 County Extension Associations in New York State. Our mission is to connect our counties to the research at Cornell University to improve lives, communities, and economies across New York State through educational programs in Agriculture, Health and Nutrition, the Environment, and 4-H Youth and Family Development.