A touching moment in the cattle barn reminds State Fair visitors that dairy products start with animals who have personalities and feelings.
Category: Livestock news (Page 4 of 5)
You know it’s autumn when alpacas invade the New York State Fairgrounds. The cuddly mammals will fill the exhibit center from Friday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Admission and parking are free for a program filled with judging events, vendors, exhibits and a photo contest. 
These remarkable creature, native to the Andes Mountains of South America will inhabit dozens of pens, sometimes with reach of visitors, although they are notoriously shy, often avoiding people intent on giving them a pat.
As fall winds bring cool weather, it may be a good idea to pick up some gloves, hats, socks, and sweaters knitted from alpaca fur, as warm and soft as any wool you will find.
Cows aren’t the only animals milked at the New York State Fair. Dairy goats have their own spot in the livestock barn they share with pigs and llamas. 
Goats are milked in a glass enclosure with signage to educate the public on the industry and products.
These guys are darn cute too. It’s fun to see them standing on hind legs to peer out from their pens or munching their feed.
If you’re feeling daring, you probably can get away 
with petting a head or two. Judging takes place in neighboring pens.
The first few days of the Fair features llamas guest starring in the goat and swine barn.
Buggies are lined up in preparation for competition in the Coliseum.
The Youth Building is a great place to pick up chicks, as many kids discover every year.
If you haven’t seen the 4-H mini horse competitions, be sure to go next year.
There are plenty of reasons to visit the Fairgrounds in autumn.
The handsome Gatsby competed this past weekend in the Stepping Stone Horse Show. Check the Fair website for more horse shows coming up.
The Empire Alpaca Extravaganza runs Friday through Sunday. It’s free to attend and a chance for a close-up look at the fascinating South American beasts.
If you can’t go a week without visiting the New York State Fairgrounds, you don’t have to. There are horses shows continuing into fall, showcasing as variety of breeds in various events featuring both adults and youth. 
This weekend it’s pintos, followed later by Morgans, quarter horses and others in the Coliseum and further down in the outdoor show ring.
One of the Restaurant Row stands often opens to serve horse owners and fans, so you may be able to feed your fair food appetite while you’re there. Details are listed on the Fair website.
Fortunately, you can get there without the ordeal of a traffic jam, 
driving right onto the grounds where you can park and attend for free, so saddle up and head out.
Aside from the food, there’s probably nothing more popular at the Fair than the animals.
State Fair Hound photographer Nick LoPresti snapped these lovely creatures on his travels around the grounds.
