‘We've got a really great fair planned for this year’

CAIRO―In less than two weeks, tents, animals, kids, and smiles will take over Angelo Canna Town Park as the Greene County Youth Fair celebrates 72 years.

A beloved local tradition organized by the non-profit Greene County Agricultural Society, it remains the only fair in New York State to still offer free admission.

The four-day event runs this year from July 23-26 and features a jampacked schedule of animal shows, entertainment, exhibits, live music, vendors, food and much more.

“We've got a really great fair planned for this year,” said Greene County Agricultural Society President Alex Johnk, who gave an update this month to the county lawmakers.

Fairgoers will find demonstrations from the Catskills Carver and bandsaw sculpting with Jimmy DiResta. Crazy Christine Balloons will host Agricultural Storytime and Doug Bartels will be performing magic. Returning favorites include Buffalo Barfield, a traveling troubadour serving up a mix of truly American roots music, and Ultimate Air Dogs where long jumping competing canines make a splash.

There will also be police K9 demos, pedal and garden tractor pulls, Irish step dancers, bouncy slides, a jaws of life demonstration, line dancing lessons, wool spinning and the Nutty Scientist.

Moonshine Mule will perform Friday evening and Peaceful Country Band will take the stage on Sunday morning.

Of course, there is a spectacular fireworks show planned for Saturday night.

Some new additions to the fair include the Amazing World of Raptors, presented by Whispering Willow Wild Care, and the Butterfly Encounter.

“People will actually have nectar sticks that they walk around the fair and hand out and then you can go to the butterfly exhibit and feed the butterflies,” said Johnk.

The emphasis of the fair has always been highlighting the accomplishments of local youth who raise animals or exhibit handmade projects. Greene County kids work hard throughout the year, raising everything from rabbits and chickens to goats and cows to bring to the fair. 4-H clubs also show off their baking, woodworking, sewing projects and other talents.

“We had 15 families bring 75 animals for vet checks and that's just the ones that came to that check. I know there's several other cow farms, like Story’s and Tuttle’s, that are doing vet checks on their own. So, we're gonna have some big shows there this year, and I'm very excited,” said Johnk.

“We've added more sheep and goat pens and we also purchased a brand-new milking machine for the dairy cows,” he told legislators. “The one we had was, I think, from about 1950. It worked, but not well. All the people who know how to run it are slowly going away. So, we got a brand new one this year.”

The Greene County Legislature provides significant funding for the fair that is also supported by numerous businesses, organizations and individuals―and run entirely by volunteers.

“We have a great board. We have great families involved now. We’ve got kids in 4-H groups and families that want to be there and want to bring a ton of stuff. There’s so much more stuff happening and kids are excited,” said Johnk.

“That makes it all really fun to be a part of,” he added.

The fair traces its roots to 1949 when Durham farmer Alfred Partridge, leader of the Blue Ribbon 4-H Club, organized a simple 4-H Club Fair at the Sutton Hollow School in Ashland to give his club members an opportunity to display their projects before family, friends, and the community.  Over the years, the fair has been held across the county in Ashland, Jewett, Windham, and Durham. Cairo has been its home since 1995.

Today, the fair attracts more than 20,000 people each year. A complete 2026 schedule can be found at thegreenecountyyouthfair.com.

“We do this for the kids,” said Johnk. “We love doing it and we’re making it a better event every year.”