On Thursday, August 29, Dairy Day celebrated its 47th year at the New York State Fair with a range of activities designed to inform attendees about the state’s largest agricultural sector, honor top dairy farmers and processors, and offer samples of New York’s finest dairy products.
Visitors to The Dairy Products Building are invited to see the Butter Sculpture, created by Jim Victor and Marie Pelton from Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. This year’s sculpture, made from over 800 pounds of butter sourced from O-AT-KA Milk Products in Batavia, New York, features the theme “Dairy: Good for you. Good for the Planet.” One side of the sculpture shows a family enjoying a riverside scene, while the other depicts a dairy farmer planting a tree, symbolizing how dairy farmers contribute to environmental stewardship. The Butter Sculpture, now in its 56th year and presented by the American Dairy Association North East, was unveiled on August 20, just before the Fair opened to the public. Sponsored by Wegmans Food Markets Inc., it will remain on display throughout the Fair.
Originally reported by Morning Ag Clips. In their article, “An Udder Throwback: Milk Bar at State Fair Still Pours Milk for a Quarter“, Morning Ag Clips highlighted the traditions and history of the Milk Bar, highlighting it’s opportunity for workforce development:
The students, many as young as 14, applied and were hired by Cornell Cooperative Extension and trained over several days, touring dairies to learn about the milk industry, visiting the Cornell Dairy Research Center and Cornell AgriTech in Geneva, New York, to dive into the challenges and technologies harvested to ensure a safe milk supply. The New York State Milk Bar has become an opportunity for workforce development through a partnership between New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets and Cornell Cooperative Extension.
For many it is a first job, a first paycheck, the first exposure to the bewildering idea that the customer is always right.
Yesterday, Director of Cornell Agricultural Workforce Development Richard Stup, and Extension Support Specialist Jay Canzonier, attended Dairy Day and spent their afternoon at the Milk Bar.
“I was honored to have the opportunity to serve milk at the Milk Bar alongside my daughter, Margo, who is proudly fulfilling her third year as Jefferson County Junior Dairy Ambassador. It was heartwarming to hear so many visitors share that their first stop is always the Dairy Bar because the milk at the fair tastes extra delicious. People from across New York State and the Northeast flocked to enjoy the refreshing chocolate and “regular” milk. Each customer was greeted with a warm smile from the 4-H members manning the milk fountains, and everyone left with a deeper appreciation for the hard work and dedication of New York’s dairy farm families.” – Jay Canzonier
Pictured above: Margo Canzonier, left and Jay Canzonier, right and Jay pouring customers their milk
The 2024 New York State Fair runs through Monday, September 2.
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By Andrea Durmiaki, Cornell University. Permission granted to repost, quote, and reprint with author attribution.
The post Cornell Ag Workforce Developments Pours Their Heart (and Milk) into Dairy Day at the 2024 NYS State Fair appeared in The Ag Workforce Journal.
Kristi Martinez
Rick Meyer