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New York State Agricultural Society

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New York State Agricultural Society
Formation1832
Founded atAlbany, New York, U.S.
TypeNGO
Websitehttps://www.nysagsociety.org/

The New York State Agricultural Society was founded in 1832,[1] with the goal of promoting agricultural improvement. One of its main activities is operating the annual New York State Fair.

Activities

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Two tractors on display in a tent. In the rear, a red one labeled "McCORMICK FARMALL". In front is an orange one, labeled ALLIS-CHALMERS with a "WD 45" emblem. A banner behind them reads CNY Two-Cylinder Club"
Tractors on display at the 2011 fair

A major activity of the society is running the annual New York State Fair.[2][3] The first such fair was held in 1841, in Syracuse, and drew 10,000 attendees over two days.[3][4] The second was held in Albany, with Auburn, Buffalo, Elmira, New York City, Poughkeepsie, Rochester, Saratoga Springs, Watertown and Utica all hosting fairs between 1842 and 1889.[3] For the 1855 fair in Elmira, several railroads put on extra trains to bring fairgoers from neighboring villages.[5] The fair moved permanently back to Syracuse in 1890.[4]

The society publishes a newspaper titled The Cultivator.[6] Originally a monthly publication, as of 2020 it is semi-annual.[7] The society supports research into ways to make farms more productive, such as the best type of grass to grow for feeding dairy cows, and whether grass fields should grow naturally or be plowed and reseeded periodically.[8] From 1842 to 1889 they published the Transactions of the New-York State Agricultural Society, which became the Annual report of the New York State Agricultural Society.[9]

The society honors New York State agricultural businesses with a Business of the Year award.[10][11][12] Every year since 1937,[13] the society has also given the Century Farm Award in four out of 56 counties on a rotating basis. These awards were given to farms that had been owned and operated by one family for one hundred years, where the families were also "good farmers and active members of the community in which they live".[14] The society's annual dinner is traditionally attended by the governor of New York State,[15] hosting dignitaries such as US Department of Agriculture secretary Arthur Hyde, newspaper publisher Frank Gannett, and University of Maryland president Raymond Pearson.[15][16][17] The society also runs the New York State Agricultural Society Foundation, which makes grants to young scholars to promote agricultural literacy, professional skills, and provide funding for students to attend the society's annual functions.[18]

In 1876, the society had an income of $41,210 (equivalent to $1,180,000 in 2023). Of that, $15,086 ($432,000 in 2023) was from the state fair.[19] In 1900, as a result of a change to a state law, the New York State Agricultural Society was mandated to receive $20,000 ($732,000 in 2023) in premiums "of all moneys appropriated for the promotion of agriculture in any one year".[20]

Notable past presidents

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The following is a list of notable past society presidents.[21]

Publications of the New York State Agricultural Society

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References

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  1. ^ "Legislature of New York: In Senate". The Evening Post. New York. April 18, 1832. p. 2. Retrieved September 19, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "How well do you know the history of The Great New York State Fair?". WSYR. August 31, 2019. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  3. ^ a b c Oneida. "More than a Village: The Six Nations Agricultural Society Indian Village at the New York State Fair has a long, storied history – Oneida Indian Nation". Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  4. ^ a b Groom, Debra J. (January 6, 2013). "New York State Agricultural Society marks its 180th year; started the State Fair". syracuse.com. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  5. ^ "Fair of the New-York State Agricultural Society". The New York Times. September 29, 1855. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
  6. ^ "The Cultivator (Albany) 1834–1865 [Microfilm Reel]". Library of Congress. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  7. ^ "NYS Agricultural Society". www.nysagsociety.org. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  8. ^ "Permanent Pastures". The Baltimore Sun. January 6, 1872. p. 6. Retrieved September 20, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Transactions of the New-York State Agricultural Society ..." Biodiversity Heritage Library. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  10. ^ staff, Saratogian. "Local dairy farms recognized at state agricultural forum". The Saratogian. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  11. ^ "NYAA named Business of the Year by NYS Agricultural Society". Westside News Inc. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  12. ^ Schoonover, Mary. "NYS Agricultural Society honors Lakewood, King Brothers". Finger Lakes Times. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  13. ^ "Tradition". The Post-Star. December 5, 1993. p. 3. Retrieved September 19, 2020 – via newspapers.com Open access icon.
  14. ^ "Century Farm awards". Press and Sun-Bulletin. January 15, 1984. p. 1. Retrieved September 19, 2020 – via newspapers.com Open access icon.
  15. ^ a b "Agricultural Groups Meet This Month". The Ithaca Journal. January 3, 1928. p. 2. Retrieved September 20, 2020 – via newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "Fair Society To Hear Hyde And Governor". Star-Gazette. Elmira, NY. January 15, 1932. p. 14. Retrieved September 20, 2020 – via newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "Will Create State Board For Planning". Star-Gazette. Elmira, NY. January 18, 1934. p. 1. Retrieved September 20, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "Give to the NYS Agricultural Society Foundation Fund – Central New York Community Foundation Inc". cnycf.org. Retrieved September 19, 2020.
  19. ^ "The New York State Agricultural Society". The New York Times. January 20, 1876.
  20. ^ "Laws of New York By Authority". Brooklyn Citizen. June 16, 1900. p. 1. Retrieved September 19, 2020 – via newspapers.com Open access icon.
  21. ^ "NYS Agricultural Society". www.nysagsociety.org. "NYSAS Past Presidents (2019)". Retrieved September 19, 2020.
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