Last year’s Equine Avenue has been replaced by this year’s World of Horses and the white ten has moved to the roadway between gates three and four, across from the basketball court.

It’s still all about horses, with educational displays, demonstrations and, best of all, a chance to pat and pet the friendly animals inside, like Ace, a Percheron gelding shown here.

A new building dedicated to equine events is due for next year and State Fair Hound would love to see the World of Horses get a larger, better-equipped permanent location as part of the upgrade. The exhibit’s popularity with visitors merits first-class treatment.

The din has returned to the Poultry Barn after an eerie, aviary quiet last Fair with birds banned to prevent disease transmission. The roosters are crowing, chickens clucking and ducks quacking again and it’s a joyful noise to be sure.

If you climb the stairs to the building’s second level you get to see more colorful fowl and to get a—you guessed it—bird’s-eye view of the feathered frenzy below.

For those who prefer their fowl in the wild, a few ducks were seen floating peacefully in the man-made pond near the racing stables. That area, not yet ready for visitors, will become the New York Experience next year.

“Right now, the reason it’s closed off is they’re putting in six inches of topsoil, Acting Director Troy Waffner explained. “Then they’re going to grass it. It won’t be done in time for this year. We’re still looking at how to program this for 2017. At the end of the day, it’s going to wind up being a festival grounds of one sort or another. We’re looking at the racing stables and making some kind of vendor space back there because the horses aren’t really in the front stables anymore, they’re in the back. So we’re taking the front stables and turning them into some sort of vendor space. We have a year to work on it.”

The main course of many a Thanksgiving meal started out as a beautiful feathered creature, like this blue-ribbon winner photographed by State Fair Hound photographer Nick LoPresti at the 2014 New York State Fair.

Be thankful that the Fair gives visitors, especially city folks, a chance to see Empire State livestock as live animals. Ironically, meat is widely eaten at the many Fair food stands. But the barns filled with beautiful animals may cause a few people to consider ethical questions concerning the meat industry.

One of the Fairgrounds’ best fall events comes up this Friday through Sunday with the Empire Alpaca Extravaganza in the Dairy Cattle Building. There will be dozens of alpaca pens offering plenty of close-up looks and a few petting opportunities, although these adorable llama cousins tend to be shy around strangers.

The center rings hosts judging events and special events showing off the featured animals, graceful South America natives.

A dozen or so vendors will also be on hand with clothing made from alpaca wool, considered among the finest and warmest fibers available. It’s a low-key, but endearing event with free admission and parking.

For more information, see the organization website, www.empirealpacaassociation.com

The popularity of Equine Avenue reinforced the fact that Fair visitors love horses. They love to see them, pet them, get close to them. The friendly staff in the tent was terrific, fielding all questions and telling fairgoers all about the horses present and horse behavior in general. EA has to become an annual feature.

Among the educational displays surrounding the main ring was a sign explaining an Equine Activity Liability Act that horse people are lobbying to see passed. Staff on hand explained that issues relating to legal liability are preventing horse owners and exhibitors from allowing more contact between their animals and the public.

State Fair Hound sympathizes with this cause, especially because more access to the animals makes for a more enjoyable State Fair for many patrons. It’s puzzling why this doesn’t seem to be an issue with sheep, cows, pigs and llamas, but there’s got to be a reason. In any event, if you want a chance for more horse interaction at the Fair, you may want to contact your state senator or rep.

As popular as animals are at the New York State Fair, baby animals hold a special fascination.

These handsome wolf pups were hanging out in a cage behind the Wolves of the World trailer.

Another cage, this one in front of the goat and swine barn held three curious kids.

A calf, no more than an hour old, received special attention from staff in the Cow Birthing Center.

You’ve probably heard that the avian flu that has plagued many poultry populations in the US and other nations has led the New York State Fair to cancel its chicken, duck and turkey exhibits for this year.

There may be a few fowl on exhibit in the youth building, where cuddling baby chicks is a beloved Fair tradition. But the poultry building, normally a cacophony of clucking, squawking, quacking and crowing will be quieter this years with no feathered creatures, making way for more rabbits and guinea pigs.

State Fair Hound photographer Nick LoPresti snapped these shots last year of those colorful birds. Nick photos are larger and more prominent thanks to State Fair Hound’s ongoing upgrade. More improvements are on the way as the Hound gears up to cover the 2015 New York State Fair as no one else does. Enjoy!