COVID-19 has forced the postponement of many live events originally scheduled for early 2021 until later in the year.

The New York Farm Show, originally scheduled for Feb. 25 to 27 at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse, N.Y., is no exception. The show has been postponed with the hope of holding it sometime in spring or summer.

“Officials of the New York Farm Show were informed by the New York State Fairgrounds that they would not be able to host the show on its scheduled dates. In fact, all large events planned for January and February of 2021 at the fairgrounds are canceled or postponed,” says Scott Grigor, manager of the New York Farm Show. “With guidance from the state of New York, the New York State Fairgrounds and local officials, tentative plans for a late spring or early summer New York Farm Show at the New York State Fairgrounds are underway.”

The show is a coproduction of American Agriculturist and the Northeast Equipment Dealers Association. It is the leading farm show in the Northeast and has been held since 1985. More than 400 exhibitors attend the show, which is held in the warm confines of five buildings at the New York State Fairgrounds.

The show attracts thousands of visitors not only from New York, but also from all over the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic.

The continuing COVID-19 pandemic forced many agricultural trade shows in 2020 to either cancel their shows outright or hold virtual shows instead. In September, the Farm Progress Virtual Experience took the place of both Farm Progress Show and Husker Harvest Days, which are normally held weeks apart and are the largest shows of their kind in the country.

Numerous other livestock and equipment trade shows had to do the same, and that trend is continuing for at least the first part of 2021.

But there is hope on the horizon. Several vaccines with better-than-expected efficacy are rolling out, increasing the chances that live agricultural events can return in 2021 at least in some form.

We’ll keep you posted on the status of the 2021 New York Farm Show as the year progresses. And mark your calendars for the 2022 New York Farm Show, which will be held Feb. 24 to 26, 2022.

For more information, visit newyorkfarmshow.com.