During the Chenango County Fair, 4-H showmen lined up their dairy goats for judges. Recently, New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball announced funding of $350,000 for the Transportation for Youth to County and Local Fairs Grant Program, to bring youth groups to state and county fairs. (Submitted photo)

Recently, New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball announced funding of $350,000 to bring youth groups to state and county fairs under the Transportation for Youth to County and Local Fairs Grant Program.

This initiative will fund transportation and related costs to bring participating youth groups to their county and local fairs during the 2026 fair season.

“Our county fairs are hubs for agricultural education,” said Commissioner Ball. “Recognizing this, our Transportation for Youth to County and Local Fairs Program is designed to help more young people from different backgrounds visit a fair and learn about agriculture, perhaps sparking an interest that will lead to a career.”

He said the program was a success in its first year and he looks forward to seeing it increase youth attendance at the fairs and increase participation in agriculture.

Applications must be submitted at the Statewide Financial System Grants Management System to be considered for funding. Proposals are due by 4 p.m., Tuesday, December 9.

Cornell Cooperative Extension Associate Director Craig Brown said his team is currently discussing the possibility of applying for the grant with the Chenango County Agricultural Society.

“This funding aims to facilitate youth visits to local county fairs, and any application we submit would be in partnership with them,” said Brown. “We are considering applying if districts express interest in bringing youth to the Chenango County Fair during the summer months.”

He said their goal would be to educate the youth about animal husbandry, enable interaction with various species, and help them experience the unique charm of the fair.

“Our application would likely focus on offsetting costs for school districts to transport and possibly secure chaperones to supervise the youth groups,” Brown said.

He explained New York State Fair tickets are free for youth aged 12 and under, and for older youth, the state fair provides 4-H with tickets to cover their entry as well as a family member acting as their chaperone.

“We give out roughly 500 tickets to 4-H Youth and their families to exhibit their animals and projects at the state fair annually,” Brown continued. “It can be a challenge to get them all issued now as digital tickets, but we are making it happen.”

According to the program, applicants may apply for up to $25,000 and must involve organizing and providing transportation for youth to local and county fairs. Projects must provide agricultural awareness and education with participants, learning stories of local agriculture to help expand their knowledge of the agricultural industry in New York.

Funds can be used for transportation costs, entry to the fairs, lunches for participants, developing agricultural educational programming, and marketing activities involving the project.

The Transportation for Youth to County and Local Fairs Competitive Grants Program was established following a successful pilot at the Boonville-Oneida County Fair in July 2024, which helped young people from Utica attend the fair.

In 2025, the first round of the program awarded 15 projects across eight regions of the state. Thanks to the program, over 3,500 youth experienced a day at the fair and learned about New York’s agricultural industry and traditions.

To learn more, visit agriculture.ny.gov/rfp-0385-2026-transportation-youth-county-and-local-fairs-program