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The 2012 New York State Fair is coming to an end. I guess time really does fly when you’re having fun! (How will I make it through a whole year without maple cotton candy?!)

I’ve learned that you can visit the fair every day, and you’ll always be able to find something new, whether it’s food, animals, or education that you seek.

Fairgoers have a wealth of knowledge at their fingertips if they want it, and those manning the exhibits are eager to share information. You may expect people to be tired, cranky, or annoyed by the last day of the fair…but not in my experience! Though it’s a massive undertaking to have a booth at the fair or a display, it’s apparent that a lot of people genuinely want to be there and spread their knowledge.


It can be crowded and exhausting to walk around the fairgrounds, but when you have a deep fried treat or a chilly wine slushie in hand…you’re going to have a good time! And there are samples abound, if you’re not ready to commit. You can taste every flavor of wine for free, snack on cheese in the Dairy Building, or crunch on flavored nuts while you walk around.

What’s not to like?

The fair is like a melting pot of all that New York and its people have to offer. There are farmers and their animals, bees and the honey they produce, food stands with dishes from as far as Zimbabwe, and museums filled with antiques. You could say that the fair has a culture of its own, bringing people together within the fairground’s acres to experience that melting pot.

And when you look around, it’s true: It’s a smile a minute at the New York State Fair.

There are hundreds of animals to see at the fair, and you can interact with a lot of them! Here are some pictures of animals we ran into at this year’s New York State Fair.

Today’s Animal of the Day is the sheep! They may seem like a common animal, but they’re actually fun and have a lot of personality.

Many of the sheep I saw throughout the fair were curious and friendly, and they all offered up their heads for a nice pat! It’s interesting to see how the sheep’s wool feels before a trim, and then again after.

If you go around feeding time, be ready to hearing a lot of “bah-ing” throughout the barn area!

You can also make your way across to the Wool Center. Inside, you’ll find a vast array of dyed wools and products made from that wool. There are hats, scarves, gift baskets, and plenty of yarns to choose from. You can watch them busy at work, spinning the wool right in front of you.

It’s a nice experience to see the cycle, from sheep, to shorn wool, to thread!

They’re often overlooked, but certainly worth your while: the museums at the fair. I’m talking about the Daniel P. Witter Agriculture Museum and the Wagoner Carriage Museum.

The Agriculture Museum is full of demonstrations, all day long! Inside, you can watch weaving in the textile section, basket making, you can watch woodwork in progress (they were making chairs both times I visited), and even dulcimer making. There’s a lot going on!


Plus, you can take a look inside the Witter Museum’s log cabin! There’s a lot of historical information available, and you can read about the German immigrants who built the first log cabins in provincial New York. It’s cool to see what would have been inside the late 19th century cabin. It had a bed, table, a cradle and hearth area with several windows so visitors can view it from different angles.

There’s a little General Store set up in the museum, where you can buy things like state fair posters and wooden tops. In the dairy section, there are dozens of New York State milk bottles on display and antique farm sets.

The Carriage Museum is nearby, and it is full of interesting cutters (sleighs) and carriages that were once used for transportation. You can check out some artifacts at the 1800s cattle drive camp setup, and see several antique stoves. One thing that is not to be missed at the Carriage Museum is the 1876 Harris Brothers blacksmith shop! You can watch a blacksmith at work during your visit.

Didn’t make it to the museums this year? No problem! There’s always next year’s fair, and you can browse through our photo gallery:

Fair visitors have had the chance to speak one-on-one with New York State Police troopers over the past 12 days, and their exhibit is a popular one!

I was first drawn to that area by the tower, and seeing someone moving around at the top. As I stopped to watch, a trooper got himself strapped up, and began rappelling up the tower! I’ve seen them go down before, but making one’s way up the tower looks like a major challenge.


A few furry friends were stealing the spotlight from the rappelling trooper, though! Three NY State Police dogs were hanging out with their handlers and a bunch of curious fairgoers. They were crowd pleasers, even though one of the dogs was getting a little loud.

There’s also an indoor portion of the exhibit, where Trooper Amanda Anna was being honored in great, touching detail. There is also a full wall that covers the fairly new problem of bath salts and other synthetic drugs.

If you’re looking for a way to cool down while you are walking around the fair, duck into the Art and Home Center for some air conditioned exhibits! Inside, you’ll find cooking demonstrations, arts and crafts, photography, and you can even enjoy an organ performance in the Empire Theater.

Upstairs, you will find art on display and the Empire State Theater Musical Instrument Museum. This is a real treat for kids, as they can have their shot at playing the organ. They work the pedals while a punched music sheet does the rest of the work!


You’ll also find an extensive model exhibit with intricate circus setups, buildings, and trains. It’s like taking a look back in history. Each of the models is hand-made to scale, and many are built from scratch. The displays reflect different periods of circus or carnival history. Many of the exhibits are labeled with the name of their builder, and many of them from our area! You can sometimes also catch a model builder at work, carefully putting the tiny pieces together. (For more information about the models, visit www.circusmodelbuilders.com)

You may even recognize some things, like the former Central New York Train Station. The display observes the 76th anniversary of the train station’s opening, and the 50th year since it closed. It’s also now the home of YNN in Syracuse!

Downstairs, you can see a variety of crafts made by people in our area. There are beautiful quilts, blankets, clothing, and paintings.

Want to see more from inside the Art and Home Center? Browse through the photos below!

This Labor Day marks the final day of the 2012 New York State Fair. Have you had your fill yet?

Maybe you were one of the estimated 25,000 that packed into Chevy Court Sunday night to see The Band Perry! The country group put on a great show, and it really looked like the crowd was enjoying it. It did feel pretty packed, but it didn’t stop people from having fun.

There is still a lot of fun to be had! You can check out the New York State Championship Demolition Derby and Double Figure 8 Race at 4 p.m. It’s at the Grandstand for $10. Or if you are looking for some free family fun – check out the Walker Brother’s Circus! It’s in the Adventure Zone, with several shows that last about 45 minutes. Since you’ll be in the area, visit the Eudora Farms petting zoo and enjoying interacting with the friendly animals!

There is still plenty left to explore around the fairgrounds. I’ve gone every day this year, and it’s wonderful to know that there is still a lot to see.

Have you seen the fish at the New York Department of Environmental Conservation Aquarium? You may not expect to see these animals when you visit the fair, but you’ll be surprised at how well this exhibit is put together.

My favorite fish on display here is the long-nosed gar! What a cool looking fish! Kids were having a great time looking at the fish descriptions and then picking them out in the tanks.

Another draw for a lot of the aquarium visitors is apparently the fact that hunting and fishing licenses are sold there! You can take advantage of that from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily at the fair.

This winner of “The Voice” probably gained some new fans today following his Chevy Court performance! It was packed!

Jermaine Paul is the winner of the second season of the popular singing competition show, “The Voice.” Before earning that title, Paul was a background singer for Alicia Keys.

His first album is set to come out in the fall.