By Debra J. Groom, The Post-Standard
A number of new agricultural exhibits will
greet fairgoers at the New York State Fair.
Mary Ellen Chesbro, agriculture manager for
the fair, said one of the biggest undertakings this year will be on Labor Day,
when fair attendees will be able to learn more about all types of animals and
agricultural products at an event call the Agriculture Extravaganza.
The event will take place in the Coliseum,
consisting of exhibitors showing off animals, horticulture and floraculture
products so fairgoers can see them up close and ask questions.
“People can see animals when they go through
the barns, but there aren’t always people available to answer questions,”
Chesbro, of Pennellville, said.
“In the barns, the owners are getting ready
for shows and many fairgoers don’t want to bother them or they can’t find the
owners to ask a question. But here, there will be several people anxiously
awaiting someone to ask them a question so they can talk about their passion —
which is raising quality agricultural products,” she said.
Chesbro said there also are ways to win
prizes at the extravaganza. Attendees will be able to pick up a flyer as they
enter the Coliseum with questions to be answered. As they visit the different
booths and pens at the event, they will answer the questions and then turn in
their flyers in a receptacle as they leave.
Local businesses have donated gift
certificates as prizes, Chesbro said.
“We will be having pens of different animals
along with the associations that promote and research them,” she said. “There
will be all types of livestock from horses, goats, sheep, swine, poultry and
there will also be horticultural exhibits. I personally would like to have a
dairy cow next to a beef cow so people can really see the difference as well as
a meat goat next to a dairy goat.”
Another new ag highlight for the fair is
available every day right inside the doors to the Horticulture Building.
Chesbro said the butterfly exhibit will allow
fairgoers to obtain a Q-tip and put some nectar on it and then dab the nectar
on their nose. “Butterflies then will come on land on your nose,” Chesbro said.
On the far wall of the Horticulture Building
will be a new exhibit on aquaponics, which is a combination of fish farming and
hydroponic farming.
Chesbro said this exhibit will be run by Aqua
Vita Farms in Sherrill and will show how vegetables and greens can be grown
using water from fish farming operation. He water contains more nutrients and
helps the vegetables while they grow. The water used on the vegetables then is
collected and used for growing the fish because the vegetables help purify the
water.
Contact Debra J. Groom at
dgroom@syracuse.com, 470-3254 or 251-5586. Follow her at
www.twitter.com/@DebraGroom
Original Article here
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