ALBANY — The New York State Fair will offer fairgoers a new and exciting way to learn more about New York State agriculture through free, guided tours starting Thursday, August 24. The tours will be led by MooU, a private tour company, and will take visitors through the Fair’s various animal barns, offering insight about the animals and their place in agriculture. State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball will help kick off the first tour at 10 a.m. on Thursday, August 24.
Commissioner Ball said, “There’s no better way to educate fairgoers, especially our youngest visitors, about our farms and livestock than to give them an opportunity to get a first-hand look and ask questions about the animals and how they are raised. I look forward to kicking off the first tour and encourage all of our fairgoers to sign up for this great barn tour experience.”
Acting Fair Director Troy Waffner said, “The animal barns are a huge attraction for families and fairgoers of all ages at the Great New York State Fair. We are excited to be bringing these new daily guided tours to visitors and hope they learn something new about New York agriculture.”
Tours will begin at the MooU tent, which will be located behind the Agriculture Museum. They will depart every hour starting at 10 a.m.daily with the last tour departing at 5 p.m.
Tour #1, beginning at 10 a.m. and running every two hours, will include stops at the Dairy Cattle Barn, Beef Barn, Poultry Barn, and the Dairy Cow Birthing Center. Tour #2 will begin at 11 a.m, and run every two hours, stopping at the Goat, Sheep and Swine Barns as well as the World of Horses tent.
Jeannene Xanthus, owner of MooU Tours said, “MooU Tours is extremely excited to be a part of the New York State Fair this year. Fairgoers will be given the opportunity to ask questions about what they see as we walk them through the livestock barns. No two tours are every just alike. Our goal is to entertain and educate fairgoers as we go through the barns.”
Text an Ag Question
In addition to the barn tours, the Fair is introducing another new way for fairgoers to get their agricultural questions answered. This year, visitors can get answers to their questions using their phone. Agricultural experts will monitor a text channel during the Fair, answering questions texted to them.
Signs in each of the barns will provide the phone number where text messages can be sent.
The New York State Fair, operated by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, runs from August 23 to September 4, 2017. The Fair’s mission, reflected in its theme, “FIND YOUR GREAT,” is to showcase the best of New York agriculture while providing top-quality entertainment.
The home of the Great New York State Fair is a 375-acre exhibit and entertainment complex that operates all year. A year-round schedule of events is available on the Fair’s website. Find The Great New York State Fair on Facebook, follow @NYSFair on Twitter, on Snapchat at nysfair and enjoy photos from the Fair at Flickr.com/photos/nysfair. Also, New Yorkers are invited to send their ideas for the Great New York State Fair at statefairideas@agriculture.ny.gov.
–NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets
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