DUTCHESS COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY INC

MISSION/VISION: OUR VISION IS A SOCIETY ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN THE PURSUIT AND PROMOTION OF OUR RURAL AND AGRICULTURAL HERITAGE, FROM NEIGHBORHOOD BACK YARDS TO FAMILY FARMS AND COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISES. OUR MISSION IS TO SHOWCASE, PROMOTE AND SUSTAIN AGRICULTURE THROUGH EDUCATION, DISPLAY, COMPETITION AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT. THE SHEEP AND WOOL FAMILY FESTIVAL IS A SHOWCASE OF THE NORTHEAST'S THRIVING SHEEP INDUSTRY, AND IT'S A FAMOUS FIBER FESTIVAL THAT DRAWS 30,000 VISITORS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY. NOT ONLY ARE THERE SHEEP, LLAMAS, ALPACAS, AND THEIR LUSCIOUS FIBERS. THERE ARE 300 FIBER ARTISTS AND CRAFTS GALORE, AMAZING SHEEP HERDING DEMONSTRATIONS AND SHEEPDOG TRIALS, A PETTING ZOO, AND OTHER CHILDREN'S ACTIVITIES.VARIOUS LIVESTOCK SHOWS SUCH AS THE PROGRESSIVE GOAT SHOW, THE SUMMER CLASSIC LIVESTOCK SHOW, THE EASTERN NY JR. HOLSTEIN SHOW, THE YOUTH GOAT SHOW AND WOOL SPIN IN, SERVE TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON THE IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE IN OUR LIVES. THE DUTCHESS COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY'S FLAGSHIP EVENT IS THE ANNUAL DUTCHESS COUNTY FAIR. THE FAIR IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR FARMERS TO SHOWCASE THE VERY BEST OF THEIR LIVESTOCK, AND THE BEST THEIR FIELDS AND FARMS CAN PRODUCE. OVER 1,000 INDIVIDUAL EXHIBITORS PREPARE EVERYTHING FROM COWS, HORSES, PIGS, CHICKENS, SHEEP, GOATS, AND ALPACAS TO JAMS, JELLIES, QUILTS, AND FINE ARTS FOR THE FAIR. THEY PROVIDE US THE ESSENCE OF WHAT AN AUTHENTIC COUNTY FAIR IS ALL ABOUT AND THEY GIVE OUR FAIRGOERS AN APPRECIATION FOR AGRICULTURE AND EDUCATION AS TO WHERE THE FOOD WE EAT COMES FROM. THERE IS NO BETTER PLACE TO SHOWCASE AGRICULTURE THAN AT A COUNTY FAIR. AGRICULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL COMPONENTS OF THE FAIR INCLUDE:LIVESTOCK HILL-12 ACRES OF THE FAIRGROUNDS DEDICATED TO SHOWCASING THE FINEST IN LOCAL LIVESTOCK, SHOW ARENAS FOR JUDGING, AND MILK DEMONSTRATIONS AND SHEEP SHEARING.SALUTE TO AGRICULTURE TENT INCLUDES THE DAIRY BIRTHING CENTER ALLOWING FAIRGOERS TO WITNESS THE LIVE BIRTH OF A CALF AND DISPLAYS OF AWARD-WINNING AGRICULTURAL CROPS AND PRODUCE. AGRIVENTURE KIDS ACTIVITY TENT - PRESENTS A MOCK FARM, LETTING 3 TO 10 YEAR-OLDS SEE HOW FOOD IS GROWN AND SOLD. THE KIDS CAN DIG UP POTATOES FROM A SANDBOX, SHEAR A WOODEN (AND WOOLEN) SHEEP, PICK APPLES FROM A PLYWOOD TREE, AND MILK "DUTCHESS" THE COW. THEY WILL TAKE THEIR CROP TO A "WAREHOUSE" WHERE THEY WILL SELL IT FOR FUNNY MONEY. THAT MONEY WILL BUY THEM A HALF-PINT OF MILK OR A BAG OF CARROT STICKS, SHOWING THEM THAT FOOD DOESN'T "JUST APPEAR ON GROCERY SHELVES".2 HORSE SHOW RINGS - FEATURING EQUESTRIAN EVENTS AND FARRIER COMPETITION.CENTURY MUSEUM VILLAGE-TURN-OF-THE-CENTURY DISPLAYS FEATURING "STORY TELLERS" IN COSTUME WILL TAKE YOU BACK TO A QUIETER, SIMPLER TIME. STROLL PAST A PRINTER'S SHOP COMPLETE WITH A WORKING 1900 PRINTING PRESS, MARVEL AT A LIVING ROOM FILLED WITH VICTORIAN FURNITURE, VIEW A RURAL KITCHEN AND WATCH AS REPAIRS ARE DONE IN A MODEL-T-ERA AUTO SHOP.WORKING BLACKSMITH SHOP & GAS POWERED ENGINE SHOW - WITNESS HOW WORK WAS DONE AND THINGS WERE MADE LONG BEFORE THE ROBOTS WERE INTRODUCED TO THE WORKPLACE. BENTLEY ONE-ROOM SCHOOLHOUSE - AN AUTHENTIC ONE-ROOM SCHOOLHOUSE WHICH HAD BEEN MOVED TO THE FAIRGROUNDS, IS FILLED WITH MEMORABILIA THAT REFLECTS EDUCATIONAL PRACTICES AND SCHOOLHOUSE ACTIVITIES IN AN ERA LONG PAST. PLEASANT VALLEY HISTORIC TRAIN STATION - RELOCATED AND RESTORED, THE HISTORIC PLEASANT VALLEY TRAIN STATION ALLOWS THE COMMUNITY THE OPPORTUNITY TO VIEW AND LEARN ABOUT THE INDUSTRIAL ERA; AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE HUDSON VALLEY'S HISTORIC STORY.JUDGING PAVILION FROM WASHINGTON HOLLOW - THE VICTORIAN JUDGE'S STAND CAME FROM THE OLD DUTCHESS COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS WASHINGTON HOLLOW LOCATION.WORKING SUGAR HOUSE AND CIDER MILL - LEARN HOW MAPLE SYRUP IS MADE WITH SAP GATHERED FROM THE 100 MAPLE TREES THAT GRACE THE FAIRGROUNDS.CERTAINLY, NO VISIT TO THE FAIR WOULD BE COMPLETE WITHOUT A WALK THROUGH THE HORTICULTURE BUILDING. AREA LANDSCAPERS AND FLORISTS GATHER TO SHOWCASE THEIR TALENTS IN BREATHTAKING GARDEN DISPLAYS. IN ADDITION TO THE PROFESSIONAL ADJUDICATION, VISITORS TO THE HORTICULTURE BUILDING WILL BE ABLE TO CAST THEIR OWN VOTES IN A SPECIAL "PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARDS" COMPETITION.ARTS & CRAFTS BLUE RIBBON BROWNIES & MORE: BUILDING E IS THE PLACE TO FIND HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF HANDMADE QUILTS, HOBBIES, CRAFTS AND MORE FROM THE FINEST HAND CROCHETING TO NEEDLEPOINT AND CREWEL.DUTCHESS COUNTY YOUTH LIVESTOCK SALE: OUR YOUTH WHO SELL HAVE WORKED HARD TO MEET THE QUALIFICATIONS OF HAVING RAISED A BLUE-RIBBON MARKET ANIMAL. WHEN YOU PURCHASE ONE OF THE YOUTH PROJECTS, YOU GIVE THAT YOUNG PERSON RECOGNITION FOR THE EXCELLENCE THEY HAVE ATTAINED. YOUR PURCHASE ALLOWS THEM TO IMPROVE THEIR MARKETING SKILLS, ENHANCES THEIR YOUTH PROJECTS, AND SUPPORTS THEIR CONTINUING EDUCATION.FARM LIFE TENT THE NEWEST FEATURE OF THE FAIR FEATURING FARMERS TELLING THEIR STORIES OF HUDSON VALLEY AGRICULTURE. AGRICULTURE IN THE CLASSROOM - AN AGRICULTURE EDUCATION PROGRAM CONDUCTED FOR LOCAL SCHOOLS TO RAISE AGRICULTURAL AWARENESS, TEACH CHILDREN VARIOUS ASPECTS OF AGRICULTURE, AND TEACH HOW AGRICULTURE AFFECTS OUR DAILY LIVES. CLASSROOM AND REMOTE LEARNING SESSIONS HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED FOR VARIOUS GRADE LEVELS K-10TH GRADE. THIS PROGRAM HAS EXPANDED TO MANY SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE HUDSON VALLEY AND INCLUDES CLASSROOM SESSIONS GIVEN TO ADVANCED PLACEMENT BIOLOGY STUDENTS.