|

||

Agriculture Career Day aims to get young people excited about the diverse possibilities for future jobs in the agricultural industry. The Career Challenge, an educational scavenger hunt with interactive exhibits, will help young fairgoers learn about a wide variety of career options and connect directly with industry and education representatives just like them, with a chance to win exciting prizes.
|

New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said, “Agriculture Career Day at The Great New York State Fair is a unique opportunity to inspire and engage the next generation of leaders of New York’s agricultural industry. Through interactive exhibits, young New Yorkers can learn about the range of incredible careers available in this critical field. We are honored to partner with the Department of Agriculture and Markets to get young people excited about farming and agriculture as we help them discover the variety of career opportunities across New York State.”

Fair Director Julie LaFave said, “The New York State Fair has deep roots in agriculture, so there’s no better place than The Fair to help young people learn about the endless possibilities this diverse industry has to offer. I encourage families with young fairgoers to take part in the Career Challenge to have some fun and learn about how you can help bring food from farm to table.”

As part of Agriculture Career Day, event participants are invited to enjoy the Career Challenge and enter to win one of two Nintendo Switches. The Career Challenge is a scavenger hunt around the Fairgrounds, where participants visit nine stations featuring hands-on activities that tie in with an agriculture career path to learn more about the various agriculture-related careers available to young people today and in the future. Young people interested in participating in the Agriculture Career Day events should register at the Gate 2 registration tent beginning at 10:00 am and move through the Fairgrounds to various stops of the Career Challenge.

At each station, hosts from New York Agriculture in the Classroom, FFA, SUNY Morrisville, SUNY Cobleskill, and more will talk about the career opportunities food and agriculture as participants complete an interactive task. Stops this year will help participants learn about career pathways in dairy food processing, plant and animal science, natural resources conservation, environmental engineering, and agriculture technology.

Participants who complete six out of the nine stops and turn their cards in to the Agriculture Career Day tent at the Main Gate by 2:15 pm will be entered in a drawing to win one of two Nintendo Switches at 2:30 pm.

Katie Carpenter, New York Agriculture in the Classroom Director said, “Agriculture Career Day at the New York State Fair is a powerful opportunity to spark curiosity and inspire students about the vast world of food and agriculture. Surrounded by real-life examples of New York’s agricultural diversity, students can engage in meaningful conversations that connect what they see to future careers, higher education pathways, and their own potential to shape the future of food.”

SUNY Cobleskill President Dr. Marion Terenzio said, “SUNY Cobleskill is proud to partner with the Department of Agriculture and Markets for Agriculture Career Day at The Great New York State Fair. As New York’s leading college of agriculture and technology, we see firsthand how critical it is to connect young people with the incredible diversity of career opportunities in modern agriculture, from precision farming and agricultural technology to food science and sustainable agriculture practices. Events like this Career Challenge allow students to discover that agriculture isn’t just about farming; it’s about innovation, science, technology, and feeding the world.

Sheila Marshman, PhD, Division Chair for Plant, Animal, and Agribusiness at SUNY Morrisville said, “Ag Career Day at the New York State Fair is more than an event—it’s an investment in the future. By educating all youth about the diverse opportunities in agriculture, we grow the next generation of innovators, problem-solvers, and stewards of our land.”

Shari Lighthall, Director of Agricultural Education Outreach at Cornell University said, “Agriculture Career Day is more than an event — it’s a hands-on invitation for young people to imagine themselves in the roles that will shape the future of our food, environment, and communities. By engaging students in real-world experiences, we’re helping them see just how many exciting opportunities are out there and inspiring them to take their next steps toward a rewarding career in agriculture.”

In addition to Agriculture Career Day, New York students from across New York State show off their tremendous skills in agriculture, science, and robotics during all 13 days of The Fair. Demonstrations take place daily in the Youth Building and FFA Building on the west side of the Fairgrounds. A complete schedule of events can be found at nysfair.ny.gov/your-visit/daily-schedules.

First launched in 2017, Agriculture Career Day at The Fair builds on the State’s ongoing prioritization of workforce development in the industry to ensure that agriculture remains a viable industry in New York State. In the current Budget, Governor Kathy Hochul dedicated $1 million to support FFA, in addition to $500,000 to support the New York Agriculture in the Classroom program and $500,000 for the New York Association of Agricultural Educators to increase the number of certified agricultural educators in the state. In addition, $250,000 was included in support of Urban Agricultural Education and $50,000 for the MANRRS program. This past spring, Governor Hochul broke ground on a new FFA Building on the Fairgrounds, which will ensure FFA students can continue to showcase New York agriculture to New Yorkers visiting The New York State Fair.

Additionally in 2024, the Governor convened the first ever youth agriculture leadership conference. Following the conference, the Governor announced the establishment of a Blue-Ribbon Panel to Advance Agriculture Education, which brings together food and agriculture industry stakeholders, educational institutions, and educators to chart a course for strengthening agriculture education and supporting the multi-faceted needs of the workforce.

The State’s efforts are paying off, with the number of agricultural teachers growing to 432 in 2025. Alongside this growth in teachers, the number of FFA charters and members has also increased. With 224 chapters established in 54 of New York’s 62 counties, there are now over 13,000 FFA members in New York State, an increase from 9,300 in 2022. In 2016, Commissioner Ball challenged the FFA to increase its number of charters across the State by 100; the FFA reached that goal in time for its 100th anniversary this year, an exciting benchmark as it celebrates its centennial and looks forward to the next hundred years.

In addition, there are currently five MANRRS collegiate chapters statewide, up from just two in 2022, and one junior chapter at John Bowne High School in New York City. Today, there is also a 4-H program in all 62 counties in New York State, providing educational opportunities to young people interested in agriculture in every corner of the State. Together, these programs help meet the growing demand for agricultural education across New York.

The Fair starts Wednesday, August 20, and runs through Labor Day, Monday, September 1. All concerts are included in the price of admission. Tickets are on sale now at The Fair’s website, nysfair.ny.gov. Packed with value, a single admission ticket costs $8 and includes access to all grounds entertainment and the Chevrolet Music Series. In addition, a Frequent Fairgoer ticket option is available for $25. The Fair continues to be one of the most affordable fairs in the nation, with admission remaining free for those aged 65 and older along with children 12 years old and under.

In total, The Fair’s 2025 Chevrolet Music Series will feature 41 national recording acts. There will be a daily 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. concert at Chevy Court (located near Gate 1), and an 8 p.m. concert each evening at Suburban Park (located on the western end of the Fairgrounds, beyond the Midway). The Fair will also host two special shows at 9 p.m. on Friday, August 22 and 29 at Chevy Court.

All concerts announced thus far are provided in the charts below. Fair staff will continue to update schedules on The Fair’s website at pages dedicated to Chevy Court and Suburban Park.

Chevy Court:

• Wednesday, August 20 – 1:00 p.m. – The Concert: A Tribute to ABBA
• Wednesday, August 20 – 6:00 p.m. – George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic
• Thursday, August 21 – 1:00 p.m. – Taylor Dayne
• Thursday, August 21 – 6:00 p.m. – Cheap Trick
• Friday, August 22 – 1:00 p.m. – Lily Rose
• Friday, August 22 – 6:00 p.m. – Neon Trees
• Friday, August 22 – 9:00 p.m. – The Lady Gaga Tribute
• Saturday, August 23 – 1:00 p.m. – Kidz Bop
• Saturday, August 23 – 6:00 p.m. – Kameron Marlowe
• Sunday, August 24 – 1:00 p.m. – Los Lonely Boys
• Sunday, August 24 – 6:00 p.m. – GROUPLOVE
• Monday, August 25 – 1:00 p.m. – Slippery When Wet
• Monday, August 25 – 1:00 p.m. – The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
• Tuesday, August 26 – 1:00 p.m. – Herman’s Hermits Starring Peter Noone
• Tuesday, August 26 – 6:00 p.m. – Sister Hazel
• Wednesday, August 27 – 1:00 p.m. – Tusk
• Wednesday, August 27 – 6:00 p.m. – Red Hot Chilli Pipers
• Thursday, August 28 – 1:00 p.m. – Tom Nitti & Ashley Bryant
• Thursday, August 28 – 6:00 p.m. – Maddie & Tae
• Friday, August 29 – 1:00 p.m. – Vertical Horizon
• Friday, August 29 – 6:00 p.m. – Yacht Rock Revue
• Friday, August 29 – 9:00 p.m. – DJ Pauly D
• Saturday, August 30 – 12:00 - 2:00 p.m. – JAMS Funk Fest – CJack Run Presents: Youth Performances
• Saturday, August 30 – 2:15 - 3:15 p.m. – JAMS Funk Fest – Stevie Wolf Blues Express
• Saturday, August 30 – 3:45 - 4:45 p.m. – JAMS Funk Fest – UAD
• Saturday, August 30 – 5:15 - 6:15 p.m. – JAMS Funk Fest – David Banks
• Saturday, August 30 – 6:45 - 7:45 p.m. – JAMS Funk Fest – The Blacklites
• Saturday, August 30 – 8:15 - 9:30 p.m. – JAMS Funk Fest – Rose Royce
• Sunday, August 31 – 1:00 p.m. – Blippi: Join the Band Tour
• Sunday, August 31 – 6:00 p.m. – En Vogue
• Monday, September 1 – 12:00 p.m. – Dionne Warwick
• Monday, September 1 – 4:00 p.m. – 24K Magic - The Ultimate Bruno Mars Tribute Experience

• Wednesday, August 20 – 8:00 p.m. – Nate Smith
• Thursday, August 21 – 8:00 p.m. – AJR
• Friday, August 22 – 8:00 p.m. – Jessie Murph
• Saturday, August 23 – 8:00 p.m. – O.A.R.
• Sunday, August 24 – 8:00 p.m. – Busta Rhymes
• Monday, August 25 – 8:00 p.m. – 98 Degrees
• Tuesday, August 26 – 8:00 p.m. – Lil Jon
• Wednesday, August 27 – 8:00 p.m. – Carly Pearce
• Thursday, August 28 – 8:00 p.m. – Lynyrd Skynyrd
• Friday, August 29 – 8:00 p.m. – Dustin Lynch
• Saturday, August 30 – 8:00 p.m. – All Time Low
• Sunday, August 31 – 8:00 p.m. – Shaggy
• Monday, September 1 – 6:00 p.m. – +LIVE+

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, browse photos on Flickr, and follow the fun on Facebook, X/Twitter, and Instagram.

Media Contact:
Jola Szubielski
Department of Agriculture & Markets
Public Information Officer
518-457-0752
LinkedIn