N.Y.S. Assoc. Ag Fairs NYSAAFPage 1 NEWSLETTER

September 2015 New York State Association of Agricultural Fairs, Inc. Ag Awareness Helps From The President County Fair’s Feed Greetings everyone: It does not seem possible that the 2015 fair season is over New York and cooler weather is fast approaching. I hope everyone had Once again the county Fairs have helped a successful 2015 fair and I know you are all now in the planning to “Feed New York” with a variety of projects process for the 2016 season. I have heard all the past presidents featuring entertainment, re-purposing and comment on how fast their term as president goes by and I now education. see what they mean. If you traveled to the Fair’s this year, here Pat and I had the opportunity to visit several fairs this summer is a brief synopsis of what you might have and we truly enjoyed our visits. I had hoped to get to many more fairs than I was able seen. to and to those that I missed I truly apologize. New York is a much larger place than The Afton Fair took and old building most of us imagine. It was great to see so many young people involved in all of our near the entrance and gave it a facelift to fairs exhibiting their animals and various other projects. house and exhibit of agricultural equipment Now that summer is over our Public Policy Committee under Director Harry Booth will and memorabilia for the public to see. In be again reaching out to our elected officials to work on securing funding for fairs as well Altamont fairgoer’s were challenged by a as making sure we continue to get our premium reimbursements. We will be continuing scavenger hunt. The Franklin County Fair our alliance with Farm Bureau this important interaction with NY State officials. We will introduced some one-on-one time with keep you posted on their progress through your district directors. guests by providing guided tours of the I want to congratulate all of our Scholarship winners for 2015 and to thank the com- livestock area. The Steuben County Fair mittee for all their work in the selection of this year’s winners. also provided guided tours along with an I want to also thank the New York State Fair for again hosting County Fair Day at the explanation of animal production. While at Great New York State Fair. A group from the Florida State Fair attended as well as a the Trumansburg Fair soybeans, which is representative from San Diego. The program provided a great opportunity to network a large commodity to the region, were the together and was enjoyed by everyone that attended. focus of Ag Awareness. The Schaghticoke The Executive Committee has traveled to Rochester for the annual convention planning Fair is still on my list of must see’s. I’m sure meeting as convention is just a few months away and First Vice President Andy Imperati they too will fill the bill when it comes to our reports that the 2016 Convention Program is coming together very well. Ag Awareness. Each exhibit provides a dif- I hope you all have a great fall and if you have any questions please feel free to ferent perspective about the Fair and how contact your District Director or one of the Officers. it presents the final product. They bring a I look forward to seeing everyone soon. great awareness of how the growers, farmer, Bob Simpson, President processors and retail establishments help to FEED NEW YORK! Many thanks have to go to the committee members for all their help to visit some of the Fair’s this year. The need for “One Voice” See you all in January at the Convention! Keep up the great work in helping us all I am sure you all read or heard about information. This topic all came about by “FEED NEW YORK!” “Confederate Flags” and/or “Confederate one individual at one fair who made it her Russell L. Marquart, CFE Memorabilia” at NY fairs this summer. It is crusade to get these items banned from her Ag Awareness Project Coordinator unfortunate that something like this can de- fair and others in NY. The amount of grief that velop a life of its own and go viral so quickly this one person caused for her fair was un- but that is a sign of the times. I received believable and through the media it spilled several extended telephone calls (over an over to many other fairs including the State From the hour each) from a reporter from the New Fair. This person was relentless in her effort York Times concerning this topic and while Treasurer: to cause damage to her fair in any way she 2016 NYSAAF fair dues notices will I was not quoted in his article much of his could for not doing as she wanted over this be arriving in the fair offices in mid- information came from our conversations. one issue. I found it interesting when Pat and October. Fairs are asked to send I am actually happy that he called me as I visited this particular fair we were walking their dues checks by December 7. his final article was nothing like what he in- Joan Rowland tended to write in the beginning and I hope that was due to my providing him with good Continued on Page 2 N.Y.S. Assoc. Ag Fairs Page 2

One Voice...... from Page 1 around and a group of young adults passed by us and said “we have to get over to that From the Executive Secretary: place selling the confederate stuff before it I am writing to let you know that I will be retiring as your NYSAAF Executive Secretary is all gone”. I believe her effort to get things sometime in 2016. It has been an honor and privilege to have held this position and banned caused their sales to skyrocket. I feel good about all we have accomplished and all the great things to come in the My point is that with all of the electronic future. I hope to continue to visit your fairs and see all the friends I have made over the devices around and the advent of all the years. I am including information for candidates interested in the position of Executive social media sites around it is very important Secretary. If you have any questions, please let me know. that each fair has an information officer and a designated spokes person so that your fair NYSAAF is accepting resumes’ for a candidate for Executive Secretary of the NYSAAF. speaks with one voice. Our message needs The appointed individual will work with the Executive Secretary for a smooth transition. to be consistent or they will tear us apart in Individual must live in New York State and be affiliated with a New York State Fair. Fair the media. It is a whole new world out there experience is a must. This individual should have communication and administrative skills and information good or bad is moving to oversee the office operation and is responsible to the NYSAAF executive committee faster than we can imagine. We all work and is to report and receive instruction from the President of the Association on all matters. hard to develop a great relationship with If someone from your fair is interested in being considered for this position, please the media and project our fair in a positive email resume’ to [email protected]. For a brief description of the duties of the way. We never know when we might have Executive Secretary, contact Norma Hamilton at [email protected] to go in to damage control mode because Deadline for applications is November 1, 2015. of something someone posts on line about us so we need to be ready. Bob Simpson, President Dutchess County Fair Announces Concession and Vendor Business Transfer Policy Rhinebeck, NY - The Board of Directors of the Dutchess County Agricultural Society, Inc, home IAFE Zone 1 Meeting of the Dutchess County Fair, has recognized the contribution their concessions and vendors make The IAFE Zone 1 Meeting was held in to the success of the Dutchess County Fair and passed a resolution creating the Concession Buffalo, NY on May 14-16. The event was and Vendor Business Transfer Policy. hosted by the Erie County Fair with Jessica They recognize that concessions are not traditional “brick and mortar” businesses and in Underberg CFE as Zone 1 director. transitioning their business to new owners, the location of their operation at a Fair is key to the value of their operation. The DCAS policy states that the prospective owner must fill out a DCAS Fair application, in- cluding references and submit this prior to taking ownership. After the references are checked and the prospect is approved, DCAS will offer the location to the new owner for 1 year, with the understanding that product quality remains at or above the existing standard and income produced from the booth also remains at or above the existing level. The benefits of the policy are across the board for all involved. Concessionaires are guar- anteed a route with their equipment, adding value to the sale of their business; a route with the equipment purchase gives buyers a stronger business plan when approaching a lender. Finally, the Fairgrounds retains control over their concession operations. Contact: Andy Imperati 845-876-4000 Deborah Aschmann 845-876-4000 NY Delegates at IAFE Zone Meeting Buffalo, NY Vicki Imperati, Admin. Operations Mgr. Dutchess County Fairgrounds 845-876-4000 ext. 23

NAL AS SO C I AT IO INTERNATIO N International Association

O F S FA N IR IO S IT A S N PO D EX of Fairs & Expositions Annual Convention and Trade Show Paris Hotel, LasVegas, NV November 29 thru December 2, 2015

VP Andy Imperati,VP Gary Newkirk and For information & reservations call: President Bob Simpson take a tour of the Ag 1-800-516-0313 • www.fairsandexpos.com Center at the Erie County Fair during the IAFE Zone Meeting. N.Y.S. Assoc. Ag Fairs Page 3

Fair Reports - 2015 8/20 Demolition Derby, paid, 1346 7/31 Chelsea Cavanaugh, Kolby Oakley, Oswego County Fair 8/21 Rodeo, paid, 1128 $10.00, 4,608 Dates: July 1-5 8/22 Concert, paid, 1087 8/1 Semi Truck Pull/Super Stock & Modified Attendance: 25,000 8/23 Demolition Derby, paid, 2114 Tractor Pulls, $5.00, 14,056 Gate Admission: Free 2016 Fair Dates: Aug. 16-Aug. 21 8/2 Truck Pulls, free, 4,600 Parking: Free Reported by: Nick Pelham, Manager 2016 Fair Dates: July 26 – July 31 Weather: Start of Fair rainy & cold. Friday – Reported by: Rita Smith, Treasurer Sunday 70-75 & Sunny Carnival: Hawkins Entertainment/Fee/Attendance: Horses, Horses, Horses and Buffalo Barfield free daily July 2 & 4, Demo Derby $10.00 July 3, Truck Pulls July 4, Tractor Pulls $3.00 Chester the Clown July 4 Fireworks BMXShow Ulster County Fair at night with Dreamland July 5, Karaoke Display in memory of Gary Tweedie at the Amusements Reported by: Robin Seaman, Secretary Delaware County Fair. Delaware County Fair Dates: Aug. 17-22 Attendance: 77,775, down 1% Gate Admission: Adult $8.00, children under 12 free, seniors $4 Thursday. Parking: Free Weather: 2 hot days, I rain day, 3 great weather days Carnival: Reithoffer Entertainment/Fee/Attendance: Paid Events 8/17 Derby, 4,596 people 8/18 Motorcycle Stunt, 1,320 8/19 NYTPA, 2,233 8/20 Big Rig and Truck Pull, 1,828 8/21 Derby, 4,590 8/22 Concert – Parmalee, 2,055 Nick Pelham, Secretary/Manager of the Steuben County Fair at theirAugust 18-23 Fair. 2016 Fair Dates: Aug. 15-20 Reported by: Edward Rossley, President

Margaret Kashorek, Genevieve Wheeler and Broome County Fair treasurer, Rita Smith in Treasurer, Donnette Wager in the office of the the fair office at Whitney Point. Steuben County Fair in Bath Manager Gary Newkirk with daughter Tracy Broome County Fair at the Ulster County Fair in New Paltz. Gary Steuben County Fair Dates: July 28- Aug. 2 is also an NYSAAF Vice President. Dates: Aug. 18 – Aug. 23 Attendance: 32,800, up 8.3% Attendance: 39,352 Gate Admission: adults $5.00, children Ulster County Fair Gate Admission: Adult $6.00, Seniors $3.00, $2.00, seniors $5.00 Dates: July 28-Aug. 2 children free Parking: Free Attendance: 50,046, up 2% Parking: Free Weather: Only one hot humid day, rest of Gate Admission: Adult $15 pop, children Weather: Rain 2 days, other days good week sunny, breezy-Great fair weather under 6 free, seniors free on Thursday Carnival: Coleman Carnival: Gillette Family Shows, gross up 5% until 4 Entertainment/Fee/Attendance: Entertainment/Fee/Attendance: Parking: Free 8/18 Demolition Derby, paid, 1176 people 7/29 Demo Derby, $5.00, 5614 people 8/19 Truck Pull, paid, 1135 7/30 Out of Field Tractor Pull, free, 3922 Continued on Page 4 N.Y.S. Assoc. Ag Fairs Page 4 Ulster Co. Fair Cont. Erie County Fair Weather: Hot Theme: Its Our Fair Carnival: Dreamland Amusements, up 2% Dates: August 12-23 Entertainment/Fee/Attendance: Attendance: 1,172,635 down by 4% Free Entertainment Gate Admission: $10.00, youth and chil- 7/29 Swon Brothers dren free, seniors $7.00 7/30 John Michael Montgomery Parking: $2.00 Aug. 12, $4.00 Aug. 13, 8/1 Caroline Kole $5.00 Aug. 14-23 8/2 Willis Clan Weather: 2 days rain, couple hot days, 2016 Fair Dates: Aug. 2- Aug. 7 remaining days were good weather Reported by: Gary Newkirk, Fair Manager Carnival: Strates Shows, gross up by 3.57% Entertainment/Fee/Attendance: August 12 - 3 Doors Down/Collective Soul, ticketed - 2,139 Grandstand for the sold out Josh Turner August 13 - Meghan Trainor ticketed-can- concert at the Boonevill Fair celled 4,454 *attendance listed is number of tickets sold Boonville Fair Assoc. prior to cancellation Dates: July 28-Aug. 2 August 13 - Hotel California-The Original Attendance: 46,389, up from 2014 Eagles Tribute Band, FREE 3,500 Gate Admission: Adult $5.00, children under August 14 - Poison’d and Red White and 12 free, seniors $3.00 Crue, FREE - 2,000 Parking: Free August 15 - Night Ranger, FREE - 3,500 Weather: 1-1/2 day of rain, rest of week August 16 - Little Big Town, ticketed-can- great celled 3,678 Carnival: Coleman Bros. *attendance listed is number of tickets sold Entertainment/Fee/Attendance: prior to cancellation 7/30 Tractor Pull, paid, good attendance August 16 - David Nail, FREE - 3,500 7/31 Truck Pull, paid, good attendance August 17 - Alabama, ticketed - 3,594 8/1 Concert- Josh Turner, sold out perfor- August 18 - Blue Oyster Cult, FREE - 3,000 mance August 19 - The Spinners, FREE - 4,000 2016 Fair Dates: July 26-31 August 20 - Ultimate Night of Destruction, Reported by: Dianne Hendrickson, Fair Of- ticketed - 2,607 Overhead view of the Chautauqua County Fair fice Manager August 21, 22 - Truck & Tractor Pull, ticketed- Gouverneur and St. Lawrence 2,529 & 3,079 Chautauqua County Fair August 23 - Demolition Derby Dates: July 27-Aug. 2 Fair afternoon and evening, Attendance: 55,453, up 15% Dates: Aug. 4-9 ticketed - 2,527 & 4,069 Gate Admission: Adult $10.00, children Attendance: 32,000, up 10% Free acts located throughout the grounds $10.00, seniors $5.00 Gate Admission: Free included Dueling Pirates High Dive Show, Parking: $5.00 Parking: $5.00 Street Beat, XPogo, Ex-Changing of the Weather: Beginning of week – hot, the rest Weather: Good weather all week, no rain Guards, Mutts Gone Nuts, King BMX Stunt was great. NO rain. and not too hot. Show, Hilby-The Skinny German Juggle Carnival: Bates Bros. Amusements, up 2% Carnival: Coleman Bros., up 7% Boy, Swifty Swine Racing Pigs, Backyard Entertainment/Fee/Attendance: Entertainment/Fee/Attendance: Circus & Puppet Parade, Jerry Ward, 7/28 & 8/2 Demo Derby’s, paid, 5,000 8/5 Firemens Parade, free, 5000 Jerry Valley, John Cassidy, Gary the Silent each 8/7 Craig Campbell, paid, 1,800 Clown, Little Hands on the Farm, Moo U 7/29 Legends Stunt Show, free, 1,000 8/9 Demo Derby, paid, 2,500 Livestock Tours. 7/30 Empire State Tractor Pull, free, 1,500 2016 Fair Dates: Aug. 2-7 2016 Fair Dates: August 10-21 7/31 Motorcycle Aerial Show, free, 1,500 Reported by: Donald Peck, Fair Manager Reported by: Dennis Lang, 8/1 Bull Riding, free, 1,500 Otsego County Fair CEO/Fair Manager 2016 Fair Dates: July 25-31 Association Inc. Reported by: Deb Kuzma, Office Manager Dates: Aug. 4-9 Attendance: 33,789, up 1.1% Gate Admission: Adult $5.00, children $2.50, seniors $5.00 Parking: $2.00 Weather: small shower 1st day. Sunny & warm remainder Carnival: Gillette Shows Entertainment/Fee/Attendance: 8/4 Parade/Fireworks, free, full grandstand 8/5 NYTPA Tractor Pull, paid 8/6 & 9, Demo Derby, paid 3,239 8/7 & 8 Truck Pulls, paid, 1,390 This quilt made by long time Jefferson County Mr. & Mrs. Wagoner at Boonville riding the 2016 Fair Dates: Aug. 2-7 Fair Director and exhibitor, Rena Fields, will carousel for their 70th Wedding Anniversary. Reported by: Judy Harris, Manager be raffled off at the 2016 NYSAAF Convention. N.Y.S. Assoc. Ag Fairs Page 5 2015 Scholarship Winners Obituary NYSAAF and NYSSA $1,000 Roberta Northrup scholarship winners: Christopher Sweeney, Niagara County Fair Roberta “Bobbi” Northrup , 76, Kendall Gillette, NYS Showpeople passed away on August 1 at her George Lamb, Rensselaer County - home in Converse, Texas. Schaghticoke Fair She lived in Berne and Altamont Hannah Bush, Chemung County Fair most of her life, moving to Converse Kaleb Booth, Washington County Fair when her husband passed away. Bridget Kackos, Grahamsville Little Bobbi managed the concessions World’s Fair for the Altamont Fair for a number Meagan Chittenden, Columbia of years. She also attended many County Fair NYSAAF conventions with her husband, Reid. Reid was manager New York State Fair Managers of the Altamont Fair and a past Association $500.00 scholar- president of the NYSAAF. ship winner: Bobbi is survived by her son, Tim and his wife Mary of Sum- Jeffrey Weeks II, Herkimer County Fair NYSAAF past president John Burr and Lewis Congratulations to all our scholarship County Fair President Doug Hanno at their merfield, Fla and daughter-in-law winners! 2015 Fair in Lowville. Mary Ann of Converse. Siblings, Shirley (Orville) Boehike, Ray (Pat) Orverbaugh and Pat (Dick) Rapp; 4 grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband, Reid and sons, Terry and Ted. Private services were held.

Steve Harter, Jeff Wise, Beth Shelmidine, Robby Simpson and President Bob Simpson at the Jefferson County Fair in Watertown. Bob is our 2015 NYSAAF President Photo display at the Clinton County Fair

Dates to Remember 2015 October 2-4...... NYS Fair Managers Meeting, Vernon Downs Raceway & Casino October 3...... NYSAAF Board of Directors Meeting, Vernon Downs November 29 - December 2...... IAFE 125th Annual Convention & Trade Show December 1...... December Newsletter Articles Due December 15...... Pre-registration for NYSAAF Convention December 15...... Reservations for Convention Banquet Registration, banquet & breakfast tickets will increase after 12/15 December 31...... Deadline for hotel room reservations 2016 January 15-18...... NYSAAF 128th Annual Convention & Trade Show Joseph A. Floreano Rochester Andrew Caiano enjoys the dairy calves at the Riverside Convention Center, Rochester, NY Clinton County Fair in Morrisonville. N.Y.S. Assoc. Ag Fairs Page 6

Beautiful exhibits at the Herkimer County Fair

Pam Shelmidine of Adams, NY was named Fair Manager of the 2015 Jefferson County Fair following the retirement of Martha Petrie.

Treasurer Gerry Elthorp, President Dick Miss Altamont Fair, Sarah Reilly Elthorp and Secretary Kathy Ostrander at the 2015 Herkimer County Fair in Frankfort

Chenango County Fair’s carnival Coleman Brothers Shows

Scott Christian, NYSAAF VP at the Essex County Fair. Chenango County Fair in Norwich Frank Tiffany, Treasurer; Rick Evans, Director; David Lawrence, Secretary and Paula Evans, volunteer.

Jeff Townsend, Manager of the Saratoga Michael French and Harold Reynolds in the County Fair and John Hamilton of Schaghticoke Scott Kolassa of Kolassa Enterprises at the office at Essex County Fair in Westport. at the July 21-26 fair in Ballston Spa. Saratoga County Fair PageNEW 7 YORK STATE ASSOCIATION N.Y.S. Assoc. Ag Fairs OF AGRICULTURAL FAIRS, INC. Norma W. Hamilton, Executive Secretary 67 Verbeck Ave. • Schaghticoke, NY 12154 www.nyfairs.org

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Thank you to all who contributed to this newsletter. If you missed this issue, send your fair reports and pictures for the December issue.

Join us January 15 - 18, 2016 128th NYSAAF Annual Convention Riverside Convention Center • Rochester, NY Convention Program – www.nyfairs.org

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NEW YORK STATE ASSOCIATION OF AGRICULTURAL FAIRS, INC. Request for Showcase Consideration Only booking agencies or individual acts who have been in good standing with NYSAAF for a minimum of two years will be considered for showcasing. Agency or act must have Association dues paid in full for year in which it showcases. [ ] Stage Act [ ] Strolling Act

AGENCY OR ACT NAME:______ADDRESS:______CITY______STATE______ZIP ______CONTACT PERSON:______PHONE: ( )______FAX: ( )______Email:______TYPE OF ACT:______Return this form along with video or audio cassette or cd/dvd & promotional information including photo suitable for publication by OCTOBER 20 for consideration. Mail to: NYSAAF – Norma W. Hamilton • 67 Verbeck Avenue • Schaghticoke, NY 12154 • [email protected]