What the Erie County Agricultural Society Gives Back to the Community…
SCHOLARSHIPS
Up to $9,000 is given yearly in scholarships awarded to selected Western New York students who are attending college in the agricultural field. Interested students can call 716-649-3900, ext. 404 for further information.
For an application, click here.
CASH AWARDS
Premiums are awards that are paid to fairgoers who enter an item(s) during the Erie County Fair and have earned special placement within that category. Categories can include woodcarving, fruits, vegetables, quilts, horticulture, goats, beef, swine, and horses to name a few. Over $133,000 was paid to several hundred competitors in 2003.
4H
4H is the youth education branch of the Cooperative Extension Service, a program of the United States Department of Agriculture. Each state and each county has access to a County Extension office for both youth and adult programs. Fifty-five percent of the Western New York 4-Hers participate and compete at America’s Fair, the Erie County Fair, each year. This is viewed as the highlight of their year to compete and showcase their project or animal. The Erie County Agricultural Society invested over $78,000 in their program at the Fair.
FFA
The national Future Farmers of America (FFA) organization is the largest youth organization in the world. The FFA has been formally invited to the Fair to participate in showing livestock and competing in CDE’s (career development events). CDEs are contests that focus on many different areas of agriculture, such as livestock judging and public speaking. America’s Fair is excited to be giving the FFA members the opportunity to prepare themselves for regional, state and national competitions. The New York FFA Association contains over 100 FFA chapters, including five in Erie County, Springville, Eden, McKinley, Ormsby, and Harkness.
PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY CHALLENGED
The Ag Society donated over 6,000 free fair admission tickets to under privileged children, adults and their aides to attend the Erie County Fair last year.
HANDICAP SERVICES
Handicap services have been expanded over the last several years to now include 2 certified deaf and hearing impaired interpreters, Braille menus and Fair Guide, and a visual interpreter.
LOCAL ENTERTAINMENT
America’s Fair, the Erie County Fair hires approximately 100 local musicians to perform in Slade Park each year. An additional 45 local acts, including theater groups, dance troupes, choral groups, martial arts and musical ensembles perform on our Community Stage every addition of the Fair.
COMMUNITY MEETINGS, CLINICS, TRAINING
Community, civic and agricultural organizations hold various meetings and events at the Fairgrounds as a courtesy from us. 4-H horse and dog shows, Erie County Rabies Clinic, Spay/Neuter Clinics, police K-9 training to name a few.
ECONOMIC IMPACT
Hamburg restaurants, hotels, department stores, grocery stores, gas and service stations benefit throughout the year from the 2 million visitors that attend our events.
