Join The Dairy Celebration at The Great New York State Fair Thursday, September 3

New York's Dairy Products and Industry on Display Through Several Special Events and Exhibits

Dairy Day Awards Ceremony at 9 a.m. in Expo Center to Honor Dairy Competition Winners and Contributors to New York's Dairy Community

Undeniably Dairy Shake-Off Milkshake Contest to Follow at 10:40 a.m. in New Location at Wegmans Demonstration Kitchen

The 2026 Great New York State Fair has a full itinerary of events and educational opportunities for fairgoers to celebrate New York's diverse, high-quality dairy industry as part of Dairy Day on Thursday, September 3. Now in its 49th year, this annual tradition features a variety of activities to educate fairgoers about the State's largest agricultural sector, recognize New York's top dairy farmers and processors, and showcase the very best of New York dairy.

State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, "Dairy Day at the Great New York State Fair is an excellent opportunity to recognize our hardworking dairy farmers, processors, and everyone in the dairy community who work tirelessly to provide some of our most delicious products, from milk and cheese, to that perfect soft serve ice cream. There are many exhibits visitors can choose to attend, from the Dairy Cattle Barn and the Butter Sculpture to the Milk Bar and the Mobile Dairy Experience, and more. I encourage everyone to come out and enjoy a day of learning and fun, and, of course, delicious dairy products."

Fair Director Julie LaFave said, "Dairy Day at The Fair is such a time-honored tradition, bringing together everyone in the dairy community and our fairgoers to celebrate an industry that plays such a vital role in our agricultural economy. Fairgoers will get the opportunity to learn more about New York dairy through engaging exhibits, demonstrations, and fun activities. I encourage everyone to come and see firsthand the hard work that goes into every 25-cent cup of milk, every scoop of ice cream, and all the amazing dairy products available at The Fair."

Dairy Day kicks off this year in the Expo Center with the annual Dairy Day Breakfast, which recognizes honorees of the Dairy of Distinction Awards, the PRO-DAIRY Service Awards, and the winners of the New York State Dairy Products Competition.

At 10:40 a.m. at the lower-level Demonstration Kitchen in the Wegmans Creative Arts Center, media teams from Central New York will "shake it up" in a competition to see who can create the best looking and most delicious milkshake in the Undeniably Dairy Shake-Off Milkshake Contest, sponsored by American Dairy Association North East (ADANE). Commissioner Ball will be on hand to help with judging the winning milkshake.

Throughout the day, fairgoers can stop by the Dairy Products Building to get a peek at the annual Butter Sculpture, now in its 58th year, sculpted by artists Jim Victor and Marie Pelton of Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. The Butter Sculpture, presented by ADANE, will be revealed August 25, the day before The Fair officially opens to the public. Sponsored by Wegmans Food Markets Inc., it will be on display throughout the 13-day Fair. Also, in the Dairy Products Building, fairgoers can check out the winners of the Dairy Products Competition, including awards for best cheese, milk, and ice cream.

The Dairy Products Building is also home to the famous 25-cent Milk Bar. In 2025, Governor Kathy Hochul announced the Milk Bar will be undergoing renovations, which will include increasing the square footage of the exhibit and installing new state-of-the-art equipment. Once complete, these upgrades will allow fairgoers to enjoy strawberry milk, along with white and chocolate milk, for all 13 days of the Fairs. The upgraded Milk Bar will be ready in 2027.

The Milk Bar continues to be operated by the State's partners at Cornell Cooperative Extension and supplied by Upstate Niagara Cooperative. In addition, fairgoers visiting the Dairy Products Building will also be able to sample and purchase a variety of cheeses from across the State, as well as products from NYS Grown & Certified processors.

The Mobile Dairy Experience- a 53-foot immersive educational experience that demonstrates the processes behind dairy production, the importance of environmental stewardship in agriculture, the economic impact of the dairy industry, and so much more-is back at The Fair this year. The Mobile Dairy Experience is open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and is located on the west end of the Fair, near Suburban Park.

The Dairy Cattle Barn, which houses all the dairy cattle shown at the Fair, will also be open to visitors. Here, fairgoers may observe cows being milked and learn how milk gets from cow to cup. The Dairy Cattle Barn is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and from Friday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. On Labor Day, all barns and buildings close at 9 p.m.

John Chrisman, CEO of American Dairy Association North East, said, "Dairy Day celebrates New York's proud agricultural heritage by honoring the dairy farm families whose dedication and care bring nutritious milk and dairy foods to our tables every day. We're grateful for all they do. As part of the day's festivities, we're hosting the 'Dairy Does More Shake-off' media milkshake competition and inviting visitors to the Dairy Products Building to experience the iconic Butter Sculpture, a tradition that has delighted fairgoers for decades."

Vicki Giarratano, Assistant Director, Cornell Cooperative Extension, said, Dairy is essential to New York agriculture, our economy, and communities across the state. Cornell Cooperative Extension supports dairy farmers through our regional agriculture teams, and the local expertise and resources provided by CCE associations. This commitment also includes an innovative workforce development project led by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cayuga and Ontario Counties, which helps young people explore careers in the dairy industry and complete their training by pouring milk at the New York State Milk Bar.

Eileen Jensen, Executive Director of the New York Animal Agriculture Coalition, said, "NYAAC is excited to be part of the 2026 Dairy Day celebration recognizing the importance of the NY dairy farmers across the state. We are proud to be part of an industry that works alongside people that work hard to bring nutritious and delicious dairy products to families each day. We hope fairgoers take the time to visit our reimagined Dairy Discovery Center and the Mobile Dairy Experience to learn more about the amazing dairy farmers in New York State."

Kevin Ellis, Chief Executive Officer of Upstate Niagara Cooperative, Inc. said, "New York's dairy farmers represent the very best of our state. For generations, they've demonstrated resilience, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to producing some of the highest-quality milk in the world. As a farmer-owned cooperative, we are honored to stand beside our members, transforming their high-quality milk into nutritious, high-quality dairy products that nourish millions of families every day. Dairy is more than an industry in New York-it's a way of life with deep roots, a cornerstone of our rural communities, and a legacy we're proud to carry forward for future generations. Today, we celebrate the remarkable farm families whose hard work makes it all possible."

About the Dairy Industry in New York

New York's dairy industry is a critical sector of the state's economy and as its leading agricultural sector, dairy accounts for approximately one-half of New York's total agricultural income. New York State has nearly 2,700 dairy producers that produce over 16.6 billion pounds of milk annually, making New York the nation's fifth largest dairy state. New York's unique and talented dairy producers and processors provide significant contributions to New York's agriculture industry, the economy, and to the health of our communities.

About The Great New York State Fair

The Fair opens on August 26, 2026, and runs through Labor Day, Monday, September 7, 2026. All concerts are included in the price of admission. Tickets are on sale at The Fair's website, nysfair.ny.gov. Packed with value, a single admission ticket costs $8 and includes access to all grounds entertainment and the Chevrolet Music Series. In addition, a Frequent Fairgoer ticket option is available for $25.

The Fair continues to be one of the most affordable fairs in the nation, with admission remaining free for those aged 65 and older along with children 12 years old and under.

Founded in 1841, The Great New York State Fair showcases the best of New York agriculture, provides top-quality entertainment, and is a key piece of the state's CNY Rising strategy of growing the Central New York economy through tourism. It is the oldest fair in the United States and is consistently recognized as being among the top five state fairs in the nation.

The New York State Fairgrounds is a 375-acre exhibit and entertainment complex that operates all year. Audiences are encouraged to learn more about The Great New York State Fair online, browse photos on Flickr, and follow the fun on Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram.

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