Bringing kids to the fair: Boonville is the pillar example for New York State program to expose youth to local, county agricultural fairs
ONEIDA COUNTY- For Robert “Bob” Grems, the fair has been a staple for his entire life and as the summer fair season nears across New York State, he is proud that Boonville is now a shining pillar for when it comes to leading by example in bringing kids to the county fair.
For several years, there was a program where school districts throughout Oneida County could participate in that would ultimately allow their students to fill out envelopes and receive tickets to go to the Boonville-Oneida County Fair.
However, it was brought to Mr. Grems’ attention that there were some students, particularly those in the city school districts, who would have no means of transportation to get to the fair.
In 1992, Mr. Grems, who has been involved for several years with the Boonville-Oneida County Fair and serves currently as a director, was a major component of what resulted in a positive solution. The concept was to help expose the younger generations to the wild fun and thrills of a county fair, while also providing an agricultural education experience.
For the next several years, he and former Boonville Fair President and the late Mr. Newell Wagoner (among several others as well), all worked to start reaching kids, who may have been underprivileged, by bringing them up to the fair by the busload.
What started out somewhere just north of 300 kids at first grew to a peak of 28 busloads and some 1,200 kids who would get to experience the fair.
That very initiative now stands as the model for other fairs statewide to do the same.
According to Mr. Grems, 2025 marks the third-year the Boonville-Oneida County Fair will be receiving $20,000 in county funding and the second-year in receiving $25,000 in state money to help this tradition remain and thrive.
Following a successful pilot program in 2024 with Boonville-Oneida County Fair, the State launched the Transportation for Youth to Local and County Fairs Program this year to help bring more visitors to county fairs statewide.
Through this program, over $300,000 to 15 organizations to bring participating youth groups to their county and local fairs during the 2025 fair season, ensuring that more young people can have access to these important community traditions and agricultural learning opportunities.
This funding was awarded by the Department of Agriculture and Markets for transportation and related costs to bring participating youth groups to their county and local fairs.
This program aims to increase youth attendance at county and local fairs with the goal of enhancing youth participation in, and appreciation of, agriculture and the domestic arts.
“Our county and local fairs are the backbones of communities across the state and represent an incredible avenue to connect people to the rich past, present, and future of New York agriculture," said New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball.
"I’m excited to continue our support of county fairs, including a unique new program that helps bring more young people to experience the tradition of their local fair. I’m looking forward to seeing the impact that these programs have during the 2025 season.”
Image via Brian Trainor.
