Hochul announces new promotion of county fairs

Jul. 2—Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Tuesday, July 2 the launch of the state's nearly $2 million marketing initiative to promote New York's more than 50 county and local fairs.

The efforts include launching television, radio and digital advertisements and billboards, a new County Fairs Passport program and a transportation grant program, according to a news release from Hochul's office.

The goal is to help boost attendance at the state's fairs, educate communities about the ways that fairs support local economies and showcase New York state agriculture.

"As a former 4-H kid, I know how impactful our county and youth fairs are — creating memories of a lifetime and providing incredible opportunities for fairgoers to learn more about New York agriculture," Hochul said in a statement. "With the launch of these new initiatives, we are encouraging all New Yorkers to get outside and visit their county fairs, experience incredible agricultural exhibits, and enjoy great food and entertainment all summer long."

State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball joined the New York State Association of Agricultural Fairs, Saratoga County Fairgrounds staff and board members, representatives from the state's regional welcome centers and Cornell Cooperative Extensions, as well as 4-H student members, to kick off the state's county fair promotions Tuesday at the Saratoga County Fairgrounds.

The initiatives were developed as part of an effort to strengthen county and local fairs, including cross-promotion with the Great New York State Fair, and improving youth and agricultural programming initiatives at all fairs statewide, the release stated.

The state's marketing and advertising campaign, Never Far From Fun, includes a television advertisement placed in broadcast, cable and connected television in every media market across the state.

Advertisements also are being placed on streaming services such as Roku, Apple TV, Hulu, Netflix, Prime Video, YouTube TV, Sling TV, Amazon Fire TV, Spotify, Pandora and iHeartRadio.

Billboards will be "strategically placed" along major highways and interstates, in high-traffic areas, in Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Binghamton, Utica, Watertown, Albany and along the Metro North, according to the release.

The campaign includes investments in social media ads with Facebook, Instagram and YouTube pages and a new website dedicated to promoting county and local fairs. At Findyourfair.com, visitors can find a map of locations for all 50 fairs, information for exhibitors and a full slate of promotional resources for the fairs, including printable posters, banners and yard signs.

The website also links to the New York State Fair's Passport Program.

The Passport program "is a fun way to engage families and young people and encourage them to visit multiple county and local fairs," according to the release.

Passports can be picked up at select local county Cornell Cooperative Extension offices, state welcome centers, and state parks.

A full list of pick-up locations is available on the Department's County Fairs Promotions webpage. Fairgoers can bring their passports to any of the fairs they visit and get a unique stamp in their booklet as well as "ag swag," which includes lanyards and commemorative buttons.