Farm Progress

Dates set for Northeast’s biggest fairs

Keeping with family tradition, next-gen farmers prep to put their best to judging test.

John Vogel, Editor, American Agriculturist

June 6, 2017

8 Slides
N.Y. State Fair

School’s out for summer, replaced in part by sweaty farm work and relaxing fun, plus a silent agenda on many farms. Youths, moms and dads, and even grandparents are readying for the ribbon-chasing finish of 4-H and FFA projects at local, county, regional or state fairs.

It’s a tradition that still binds farm families together and keeps agriculture close to a kid’s heart, no matter his or her age. The accompanying photos show why fairs have never lost their luster across the Northeast.

State and regional fairs often shift dates. So here’s the 2017 schedule for the Northeast’s largest fairs:

• Bangor State Fair, Bangor, Maine, July 25 to Aug. 6

• Big E (Eastern States Expo), West Springfield, Mass., Sept. 15 to Oct. 1

• Delaware State Fair, Harrington, Del., July 20-29

• Durham Fair, Durham, Conn., Sept. 21-24

• Hopkinton State Fair, Contoocook, N.H., Sept. 1-4

• Maryland State Fair, Timonium, Md., Aug. 24 to Sept. 4

• New Jersey State Fair, Augusta, N.J., June 22 to July 9

• New York State Fair, Syracuse, N.Y., Aug. 23 to Sept. 4

• State Fair of West Virginia, Lewisburg, W.Va., Aug. 10-19

• Vermont State Fair, Rutland, Vt., Aug. 15-19

• Washington County Fair, Richmond, R.I., Aug. 16-20

• York Fair, York, Pa., Sept. 8-17

About the Author

John Vogel

Editor, American Agriculturist

For more than 38 years, John Vogel has been a Farm Progress editor writing for farmers from the Dakota prairies to the Eastern shores. Since 1985, he's been the editor of American Agriculturist – successor of three other Northeast magazines.

Raised on a grain and beef farm, he double-majored in Animal Science and Ag Journalism at Iowa State. His passion for helping farmers and farm management skills led to his family farm's first 209-bushel corn yield average in 1989.

John's personal and professional missions are an integral part of American Agriculturist's mission: To anticipate and explore tomorrow's farming needs and encourage positive change to keep family, profit and pride in farming.

John co-founded Pennsylvania Farm Link, a non-profit dedicated to helping young farmers start farming. It was responsible for creating three innovative state-supported low-interest loan programs and two "Farms for the Future" conferences.

His publications have received countless awards, including the 2000 Folio "Gold Award" for editorial excellence, the 2001 and 2008 National Association of Ag Journalists' Mackiewicz Award, several American Agricultural Editors' "Oscars" plus many ag media awards from the New York State Agricultural Society.

Vogel is a three-time winner of the Northeast Farm Communicators' Farm Communicator of the Year award. He's a National 4-H Foundation Distinguished Alumni and an honorary member of Alpha Zeta, and board member of Christian Farmers Outreach.

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