Genesee County Fair

Photos by Debra Reilly

Photos by Debra Reily.

Photos by Kristin Smith. For more photos, click here.

Tuesday, July 27th – CELEBRATE 4-H DAY

• 7 AM — 4-H Dairy Cattle may arrive
• 9:30 AM — 4H Market Auction Hog Show (Main Show Ring)
• 10 AM – Exhibition Halls & Buildings Open
• NOON — 4-H Market Auction Lamb Show (Main Show Ring)
• NOON – Open Class Beef Show (Main Show Ring)
• 2:30 — 4-H Market Auction Steer Show (Main Show Ring)
• 4 PM — Midway Opens
• 6 PM – Parade Line Up for 4-H Clubs (Racing Pit Area)
• 6:30 PM – Parade for 4-H Clubs—Around Fairgrounds
• 6PM — 4-H Goat Agility Contest (Main Show Ring)
• 7 to 10PM - Band – TBD (Entertainment Tent)
• 10 PM – Exhibit Halls & Buildings Close

Daily at the Fair: Balloon Display & Demonstrations, Pig Racing, Niagara Down Under, Pony Rides, Chain Saw Carver. Follow us on Facebook to keep up to date with changes.

Photos by Kristin Smith. For more photos, click here.

Monday, July 26th – VETERAN’S DAY AT THE FAIR

• 7 AM — 4-H Livestock may arrive (Beef steers, dairy steers, sheep, goats, hogs)
• 10 AM – Exhibition Halls & Buildings Open
• NOON — 4-H Market Auction Final Weigh In (steers, lambs, goats, hogs)
• 1 PM — 4-H Livestock Skill-a-thon (Main Show Ring)
• 4 PM — 4-H Market Auction Goat Show (Main Show Ring)
• 6 PM — 4-H Livestock Judging Contest
• 7 to 9:30 PM – Band – TBD (Entertainment Tent)
• 10 PM – Exhibit Halls & Buildings Close

Daily at the Fair: Balloon Display & Demonstrations, Pig Racing, Niagara Down Under, Pony Rides, Chain Saw Carver. Follow us on Facebook to keep up to date with changes.

Alianna Baris, a 2021 graduate of Le Roy High School, is the 2021 Genesee County Fair Queen.

Tomorrow is Veteran's Day at the fair. Here's the schedule:

7 AM—4-H Livestock may arrive (Beef steers, dairy steers, sheep, goats, hogs)

10 AM – Exhibition Halls & Buildings Open

NOON—4-H Market Auction Final Weigh In (steers, lambs, goats, hogs)

1 PM—4-H Livestock Skill-a-thon (Main Show Ring)

4 PM— 4-H Market Auction Goat Show (Main Show Ring)

6 PM—4-H Livestock Judging Contest

10 PM – Exhibit Halls & Buildings Close

Alianna Baris and 2019 Fair Queen Taylor Schofield.

Jasmine Turner, who won Dutchess.

Gabriella Zocco, who won Princess.

Zoe Castro.

Alivia Kennedy, Little Miss winner.

Brook Pagels, winner Miss contest.

The OHMS Band at the Genesee County Fair playing "Nobody to Run With," originally by the Allman Brothers Band.

Here are some shots from last night's Genesee County Speedway races as part of this week of the Genesee County Fair. There will be more races during the fair this coming Saturday.

Photos by Kristin Smith.

Sunday, July 25th – SENIOR CITIZEN DAY

• 9 AM — Genesee Valley Antique Tractor Pulls (Grandstands)
• 9 AM — Open Beef Show (Main Show Ring)
• 10 AM — WNY Garden Pullers Tractor Pulls (Grandstands) 10 AM – 4-H Beef Show (Main Show Ring)
• 10 AM – Exhibition Halls & Buildings Open
• NOON – Open Class Beef Show (Main Show Ring) NOON—4-H Club Exhibit Judging (Kennedy Building)
• 2 PM — Poultry Show (Merton Building)
• 2 PM — Fair Queen/Princess Pageant (Entertainment Tent)
• 2 PM — Color War (Lawn North of Fair Restrooms) Sponsored by LuGia’s on Wheels
• 4 PM—The Big Pig Shindig Swine Show (Main Show Ring)
• 7 to 10 PM — Band – BB Dang (Entertainment Tent)
• 10 PM – Exhibit Halls & Buildings Close

Daily at the Fair: Balloon Display & Demonstrations, Pig Racing, Niagara Down Under, Pony Rides, Chain Saw Carver. Events & times subject to change. Follow us on Facebook to keep up to date with changes.

The Genesee County Fair is underway and yesterday's first official event, and only event, was the North American Six Horse Hitch Classic Series competiton.

Today's schedule:

7 AM—4-H Beef may arrive

9 AM—Empire Classic Youth Sheep Show (TBD)

9 AM—NY Hereford Beef Show (TBD)

10 AM – Exhibition Halls & Buildings Open

10 AM – 4-H Kennedy Building Exhibit Judging (Kennedy Building)

10 AM – 4-H, Rabbits, Cavies & Poultry Must be in place

12:30 PM—North American Six Horse Hitch Classic (Horse Arena)

2 PM—Rabbit & Cavy Show (Merton Building)

2 PM—Fair Queen—Speech & Talent (Entertainment Tent)

4 PM—Farm Hitch Draft Horse Show (Horse Arena)

5 PM—4-H Club Exhibits must be in place (Kennedy Building)

6 PM – Genesee Speedway Racing

7 to 10PM—Band – OHMS Band (Entertainment Tent)

11 PM – Exhibit Halls & Buildings Close

Photos by Kristin Smith.

Saturday, July 24th - DRIVE YOUR TRACTOR TO THE FAIR DAY - Fair Opens @ 9 a.m.

• 7 AM — 4-H Beef may arrive
• 9 AM — Empire Classic Youth Sheep Show (TBD
• 9 AM — NY Hereford Beef Show (TBD)
• 10 AM – Exhibition Halls & Buildings Open
• 10 AM – 4-H Kennedy Building Exhibit Judging (Kennedy Building)
• 10 AM – 4-H, Rabbits, Cavies & Poultry Must be in place
• 12:30 PM — North American  Six Horse Hitch Classic (Horse Arena)
• 2 PM — Rabbit & Cavy Show (Merton Building)
• 2 PM — Fair Queen—Speech & Talent (Entertainment Tent)
• 4 PM — Farm Hitch Draft Horse Show (Horse Arena)
• 5 PM 4-H Club Exhibits must be in place (Kennedy Building)
• 6 PM – Genesee Speedway Racing
• 7 to 10 PM — Band – OHMS Band (Entertainment Tent)
• 11 PM – Exhibit Halls & Buildings Close

Daily at the Fair: Balloon Display & Demonstrations, Pig Racing, Niagara Down Under, Pony Rides, Chain Saw Carver. Events & times subject to change. Follow us on Facebook to keep up to date with changes.

Follow us on Facebook to keep up to date with changes.

Friday, July 23rd -- North American Six-Horse Hitch Classic Series -- 5:30 p.m.

One hundred and eighty one years ago, the local farmers invited the Genesee County community to a fair and the Ag Society has been hosting a fair every year since -- well, except last year when a pandemic forced the fair's concellation in history.

In 2021, the Genesee County Fair is back and fair managers are promising a good time.

"We have a midway Tuesday through Saturday," said Rose Topolski, one of the fair managers. "We have a demolition derby Friday night at seven o'clock. We have a big draft horse show tomorrow at 5:30 (p.m.), and that continues Saturday at noon. We also have stock car racing, both Saturdays of the fair.

"We're expecting between a thousand and twelve hundred animals to be on the property during the entire week. We have tons of fair food. All the fair favorites. Pretty much every aspect of the fair will be here again this year."

To celebrate, the Chamber of Commerce organized a ribbon cutting at the fairgrounds this afternoon.

The fair has been quite popular the past few years and comanager Nick O'Geen thinks after a year of COVID-19 restrictions, the fair offers area residents a way to get out and rub elbows with their friends and neighbors again.

"You've been cooped up long enough," O'Geen said. "It's time to come out and have some fair fun."

For the complete 2021 schedule, click here.

On Thursday, Batavia Downs hosted the Genesee County Fair harness races.

Every year, the state gives money to the counties with harness racing to host a purse-only (no wagering) card of races. Since the fairgrounds are not suitable for harness racing, Batavia Downs hosts the races.

"It’s a good opportunity for our local horsemen and people from outside this area to come here, make some money," said General Manager of Live Racing Todd Haight. "They’re all New York-bred horses so it’s good for the New York-bred program, it’s good for or local horsemen. It’s good for everybody."

The 2021 racing season starts this coming Wednesday. The first post time is 6 p.m.

Video: For one race, I was able to ride in the cab of the starter truck. The horses in the race were 2-year-old colts so you'll see some of them hang back from the starter's gate, unlike a race with more experienced horses.

Starter Terry Mays, who was kind enough to let me share the very cramped space of the gate truck.

Press release:

The 51^st Annual Genesee County 4-H Market Animal Auction will be held Thursday, July 29, at the Genesee County Fair.  The auction will feature chickens, goats, lambs, beef steers, dairy steers and hogs raised by local 4-H members. Animals will be auctioned by William Kent Inc. of Stafford. 

New this year, the 4-H Market Animal Auction will offer online and in-person bidding. Online pre-bidding will be available on www.williamkentinc.com starting Tuesday, July 27^th.  The live auction will be held at 7 p.m. in the Main Show Ring at the Genesee County Fair.

Registration for bidders attending the live auction will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the 4-H Kennedy Building.

The fairgrounds are located at 5056 E. Main Street Road, Batavia.

For more information, please contact the Genesee County 4-H Office at (585) 343-3040, ext. 101, or visit www.williamkentinc.com and look for the Genesee County 4-H Market Animal Auction.

The president of the Genesee County Agricultural Society said she is cautiously optimistic following today’s announcement from Gov. Andrew Cuomo that county fairs across New York State will be able to take place under six-foot social distancing guidelines.

“We don’t want to get ahead of ourselves as we continue to consult with County Manager Matt Landers and the health department” regarding what will be necessary for area residents to enjoy the Genesee County Fair this summer, Amanda Gallo said.

The fair is scheduled for July 24-31 at the county fairgrounds on East Main Street Road. It was cancelled last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gallo said tentative plans call for the organization to host the North American Classic Six-Horse Hitch Series on July 23-24 and the Empire Classic Youth Sheep Show on July 24.

The draft horse show is the biggest in the state (except for the New York State Fair) and the sheep show draws participants from throughout Western New York. The open beef and open swine shows are set for July 25, with Genesee County 4-H-only shows scheduled throughout the week.

Earlier this month, the Genesee County Legislature allocated $11,000 for 4-H judging expenses and 4-H premiums associated with the fair.

“We’re hoping to have all of our attractions and livestock shows this year,” Gallo said. “We will release more details as we get further guidance.”

Landers said he is “very happy” to know the fair will be held this year.

“I have enjoyed going to the fair many times and hope to take my kids to the demolition derby this year,” he said.

Gallo said the demolition derby is the feature event on July 30.

Fully Vaccinated Equals No Mask

In another development, Cuomo announced that New York will adopt the Center for Disease Control’s new indoor mask and social distancing guidelines effective this Wednesday.

The governor's statement came four days after the CDC ruled that fully vaccinated people could get rid of their masks indoors in most instances.

Masks reportedly continue to be necessary on public transit, in nursing homes, in homeless shelters, correctional facilities, schools and healthcare facilities across the state in accordance with the new federal guidelines, Cuomo said.

He added that those who have compromised immune systems or have yet to be vaccinated are required to wear masks and to socially distance.