The Great New York State Fair Expands First-of-its-Kind Voice of The Farmer Garden, Adding a Small Apple Orchard

Now In its Fourth Year, the Garden Adds Cut Flower Varieties and Wool Pellets, Celebrating the Strength and Variety of NYS Agriculture

Voice of the Farmer Garden Helps Visitors Learn about Agriculture,

Spotlights New York Crops Grown and Produced in New York

The New York Department of Agriculture and Markets, the Great New York State Fair, and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Onondaga County announced that the New York Voice of the Farmer Garden, which opened at the 2023 Great New York State Fair, has been expanded this year to include new cut flower beds highlighting New York's growing commercial cut flower industry, an exhibit on wool pellets as soil amendments, and a small, high-density apple orchard.

New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, "As the oldest state fair in the nation, The Great New York State Fair has always remained deeply committed to showcasing its agricultural roots. I'm proud to say that today, it continues to serve as an exciting space for fairgoers to learn about our incredible agricultural community, and the Voice of the Farmer Garden, grown and maintained by our partners at CCE Onondaga, is an excellent example of this. Every year, we've seen the garden grow to showcase a broader picture of New York's rich agricultural heritage, and I encourage fairgoers to stop by and explore the wide variety of crops and food products that we produce right here in our own backyard."

New York State Fair Director Julie LaFave said, "We are so excited to share our new additions to the New York Voice of the Farmer Garden this year at the Great New York State Fair. At the end of the day, it's all about uplifting and showcasing New York's rich, diverse agricultural community. This year, we've expanded the garden to help visitors learn more about key agricultural industries that help nourish our communities and fuel our economy. I'm thankful to our partners at CCE Onondaga for helping this first-of-its-kind garden continue to flourish year after year."

David Skeval, Executive Director of CCE Onondaga, said, "Each year, the Voice of the Farmer Garden gives fairgoers a chance to slow down, look closely, and make a real connection between the food on their tables and the people, land, science, and hard work behind it. With new additions like cut flowers, a wool pellet trial, and a small apple orchard, visitors can see even more of the strength, diversity, and innovation of New York agriculture. We hope that every person who walks through the garden leaves with a deeper appreciation for the farmers and agricultural communities who sustain us every day. Cornell Cooperative Extension of Onondaga County connects people to the latest and greatest research, and a garden you can walk into and ask questions in is the best classroom we have. We're grateful to the Department of Agriculture and Markets and the State Fair for the partnership, and to our unstoppable staff and dedicated Master Gardener Volunteers, who work year-long on this garden and are here in it every day of the Fair."

The New York Voice of the Farmer Garden opened at the Great New York State Fair in 2023, becoming the very first statewide garden of its kind to open at a state fair in the U.S. The garden, which is located across from the Expo Center near the Goat Pavilion and kitty-corner from the Family Fun Zone, is a living, interactive learning space for visitors to see many of the major crops grown in New York. In 2025, the Voice of the Farmer Garden (VOFG), planted and maintained by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Onondaga County, donated over 112 pounds of fresh produce to food pantries across the City of Syracuse so far this year. In 2025, the garden donated a total of over 700 pounds, and expect to exceed that milestone this year.

Since its debut at The Great New York State Fair in 2023, with the support of Farm Journal Foundation and the National Association of the State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA), the garden has expanded year after year to encompass a broader snapshot of New York's agricultural landscape. In addition to showcasing over 45 varieties of vegetable crops, herbs, fruits and pollinator plants, the garden includes informational plaques on many aspects of New York's agricultural industry, including livestock farming, urban agriculture, food supply chains, and more.

This year, the garden has expanded to include new cut flower beds to highlight New York's growing commercial cut flower industry. The new boxes, which were installed in late Spring include a variety of frequently grown cut flowers in New York State, with high value crop dahlias, Oklahoma Zinnias, Mahogany Splendor Hibiscus, along with marigolds, and celosia as well as greenery and filler plants like lemon basil.

The garden also expanded its apple tree exhibit to create a small, high-density apple orchard. The eight new apple trees were planted in May, with the help of State Fair Director Julie LaFave, and represent a mix of New York-native apple varieties. The new orchard showcases New York's apple industry, which contributes roughly $1.3 billion in total economic output, provides more than 8,000 jobs, and produces nearly $4 million in gross domestic product to New York State's economy. To help highlight this new addition, the New York State Apple Association and CCE Onondaga staff will offer an apple fruit leather demonstration at the Wegman's Kitchen in the Creative Arts Center on September 3rd at 3:30 p.m.

Additionally, this year, the garden is incorporating a wool pellets trial into a few beds in the garden. Wool pellets are raw wool that isn't suitable for clothing. This raw wool, called grease wool, is used as a natural fertilizer that helps reduce waste, improve soil health, and support resource-efficient food production.

Visitors can learn about New York State agriculture on a walking tour with QR codes that, when scanned on their phones, link to videos provided by Farm Journal Foundation and CCE Onondaga of farmers and others in the food supply chain telling the story of agriculture in New York and around the country. Master Gardener Volunteers and CCE Onondaga staff, who planted and maintain the exhibit, will be on site at the garden 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day of the Fair. Visitors are encouraged to speak with staff to learn more about the garden, specific crops, or agriculture in New York. Fairgoers will also be able to explore the garden's map of prime soils and posters about farmland protection and the New York State Agricultural Census.

Our youngest fairgoers will also be able to once again enjoy last year's popular interactive scavenger hunt by visiting the shelled corn wading pool containing tokens to learn about a crop and win a prize! The garden includes a toddler potting bench with soil and seeds, and a toddler picnic table with vegetable matching games.

The Fair starts Wednesday, August 26, and runs through Labor Day, Monday, September 7. 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 Fair's award-winning concert lineup. 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.

About the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets

The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets' mission is to promote New York State agriculture and its high-quality and diverse products, foster agricultural environmental stewardship, and safeguard the state's food supply, land, plants, and livestock to ensure the viability and growth of New York's agricultural industries.

About Farm Journal Foundation

Farm Journal Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to achieving global food security by sustaining modern agriculture's leadership role and ability to meet the vital needs of a growing population. The organization works to advance this mission through key issue areas, including global food and nutrition security, conservation and sustainability, rural development, and agricultural research and innovation. To learn more, visit https://www.farmjournalfoundation.org.

About Cornell Cooperative Extension of Onondaga

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Onondaga County (CCE Onondaga) is one of 58 County Extension Associations in New York State. Our mission is to connect our counties to the research at Cornell University to improve lives, communities, and economies across New York State through educational programs in Agriculture & Food Systems, Health and Nutrition, the Environment, and 4-H Youth and Family Development. CCE Onondaga has been a trusted pillar of education in Onondaga County for over 110 years, making science practical and accessible for our evolving everyday lives.

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