Satisfying a hearty appetite wasn’t always as easy as ordering up a steak sandwich or an ear of corn on the midway. Hungry cowboys had a Pavlovian response to the clang of the dinner bell rung by the crew of their drive’s chuckwagon, much like the authentic one exhibited every day of the Fair in Carriage Museum.

Oswego County cowboy lore buff Doug Corey has his red-wheeled wagon fully equipped with everything needed on the trail to rustle up some hearty grub to feed trail hands in the old west, from vintage iron cookware to barrels, actual containers of food and whiskey, lanterns and a coffee grinder mounted on the side of a wagon.

Corey, in character with a white beard and wide-brimmed hat, is on hand for his 19^th year at the Fair, ready to answer questions from tenderfoots and talk up the charm and history of the old west. His rolling kitchen stands among the impressive  collection of antique wagons and carriages that make the Carriage Museum, next door to the Agriculture Museum, one of the Fair’s true gems.

From the St. Lawrence to New York harbor, Lake Champlain to the Finger Lakes, the Empire State is rich in navigable waterways and an exhibit at this year’s New York State Fair reminds us that the Water is Great in New York State.

Weather sensing data is collected by a 7-foot buoy in the reflecting pool and displayed on a screen in a nearby tent. The buoy, on loan from the Great Lakes Research Consortium based at SUNY ESF, transmits air and water temperature, barometric pressure, wind speed and direction and solar radiation. “It’s an example of the buoys that are across New York, the Great Lakes and actually and across the world,” said Dave White of the New York Sea Grant. “For boaters it can provide them what’s happening with wave and weather conditions on the site they’re going to boat.”

The Water is Great tent features displays on safe boating from visibility to emergency kits to lifejackets for people and pets. Visitors can score some decals to identify the owners of stray crafts and reflectors to add safety through visibility. “These decals are put on the paddle,” White explained. “Other boaters will be able to see the reflected light when they’re out of the water.”

Fairgoers can also catch occasional demonstrations of an underwater vehicle in the pond. “It has a little camera on a gyroscope in it and it’s on a tether cord so you can drop it in the water and drive it around and it gives you a video of wherever it goes,” said Greg Boyer Great Lakes of the Research Consortium and SUNY ESF. “We would use this to find shipwrecks, to search the bottom for lost objects, to inspect things where you would normally have to put a diver in the water.”

The popular butterfly tent returns to the Horticulture Building at the New York State Fair, this year with more insects including exotic breeds from Africa, Asia and Central America. Past years have included only the familiar monarch butterfly, so those fluttering around your head this year will be ones you haven’t seen, unless you have traveled far from New York state.

The SkyRiver Butterfly Exhibit is open daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Admission, which includes a feeding stick to attract the butterflies, is $2. Great photo ops abound!

Families who found the choices in Christmas tree shopping confusing should make a mental note to visit the New York State Christmas Tree Growers tent at next year’s New York State Fair. There you’ll find live examples of various tree species and literature to help you figure out the qualities and characteristics of each type. Staff on hand offer expert advice.

It may be hard to get interested in Christmas in August and September, but you can use what you learn every December.

Season’s greetings from State Fair Hound.

There was no performing dogs show at the 2015 New York State Fair, but that doesn’t mean there were no canines at the Fair. The 4H dog show always features a variety of both purebreds and mixed breeds, all doing their best to demonstrate the lessons they’ve learned from their young owners. Obedience training demos require the pups to show their ability to follow basic commands while the agility course is more rigorous and tricky.

Among the meet and greet favorites are State Police bloodhounds, brought out by their handlers at the Troopers’ exhibit for petting, pictures and chatting.

Four-legged soldiers got a tribute in granite with the addition of the War Dogs Memorial in the Veterans Memorial area.

If you didn’t see this year’s sand sculpture, you missed a terrific work. Don’t worry, State Fair Hound has a look for you, the first from opening day and the finished product from later in the Fair.

The most amazing part of the 2015 version of this favorite exhibit was the striking likenesses to famous New Yorkers the artists carved out of sand.

What can they do to top this? See you at the 2016 Fair.

Fair patrons entering the Grange Building to visit the State Fair history exhibit are finding more history than they expected. Just inside the door, Oswego artist Don Gillespie is at work on an ambitious project with a storied past of its own. It’s a re-creation of dramatic work by Charles Henry Grant (1866-1928) entitled “At the Mercy of Neptune” that Gillespie is painting in its original nine-foot-by-five-foot size.

The original painting, first displayed in 1896 in the Oswego gallery of Gillespies’ great-grandfather, W.R.Shayes, was damaged in a fire, then restored before being exhibited at the 1897 New York State Fair. Gillespie, is planning to complete the project during the Fair or shortly thereafter, pointing for an unveiling on Sep. 25 at the Oswego Art Association gallery. It will subsequently be donated to the Maritime Museum in Oswego.

Gillespie, a former concept artist for the space program, is selling tee-shirts and collecting donations to finance the project while painting and talking to fairgoers, especially enjoying the insightful questions he gets from kids.

More information on the “At the Mercy of Neptune” restoration is available at www.mybrushstrokes.com/cloning-neptune/.

One State Fair feature we’d like to see expanded and given a makeover is the Pan African Village. It’s been around since 1997 with few changes, still an underappreciated treasure at the Fair.

Jerk Hut fires up a meal

Some of the food sold there is not found anywhere else on the grounds, from Bongo’s spicy-hot jerk chicken and fish to Gwen’s authentic soul food. Las Delicias’ Caribbean favorites, including empanadas and tostones are also on that same vendor’s menu in its International Building location, but we prefer the village ambience for our island feast.

The restaurants are run by well-known CNY neighbors, while some of the craft and gift items are rare finds. The entertainment tent is lively and soulful with local bands and dancers. Historical and cultural exhibits have come and gone, some offering genuine inspiration.

Pan African Village crafts on display

Presuming there’s space added to the grounds when the Grandstand is demolished, maybe some of the established attractions can benefit and maybe the Pan African Village is one of those attractions. More colorful and decorative stands and décor could add sparkle to this State Fair gem.

One really good reason to love the Fair is its wide range of exhibits. Sure, it’s the food, the rides and the entertainment, but you can get so much more out of a day touring the grounds.

Last year we told you about Future of Nursing: New York State Action Coalition exhibit in the Hall of Health section of the Science and Industry Building. It’s back this year, to discuss the ongoing and dramatic changes in our health care system and the variety of approaches NYSAC is using to ensure that nurses play a key role in health care transformation in New York. Professional leaders and representatives of New York State colleges that offer nursing programs will be on-hand to discuss a statewide initiative on the future of nursing, and the opportunities available to people interested in pursuing a nursing degree. The Hound loves nurses, so pay them a visit.

While in the neighborhood, visit some of the other exhibits in the Hall of Health which was upgraded with a brighter, cleaner look last year. Health care organizations and charitable groups are on hand with knowledgeable staff to offer advice, referral services and even some free stuff.

Last year we especially appreciated the fire safety display which went from cartoonish to polished and professional. The kids will love it.

By now you should be planning your trip(s) to the 2015 New York State Fair, so here’s a reminder to stop by the Grange Building, which is opposite the Dairy Products Building back door, behind the milk bar, to tour the State Fair history exhibit.

The second year of the display, 2014, included subtle changes to an artistic and fascinating stroll through photos, artifacts and text that every State Fair aficionado should re-visit annually. We’ve found that each trip you make brings new discoveries and triggers warm memories. We often hear patrons commenting on events they remember, concerts they attended and history they witnessed there. The souvenir shop is a great spot to find one-of-a-kind Fair memorabilia to take home.

Speaking of Fair memorabilia, the New York State Department of Transportation setup in the Center of Progress Building will be accepting applications for a new license plate featuring the State Fair logo. We’ll visit DOT during the Fair and report back with all the details.