Think you have ‘country culture’? Test your mettle at Empire Farm Days
by Courtney Llewellyn
Empire Farm Days will be celebrating another wonderful year from Aug. 2 – 4, again at Palladino Farms in Pompey, NY. The annual celebration recognizes and honors all this agricultural in New York State, and this year, a new attraction will be sure to bring out both the bravado and the brawn in some attendees.
There will be a couple of new events this year to attract both farmers and the whole farm family, including the Farmer Olympics. Sign-ups will be taking place on site.
Sponsored by Country Culture, the online country lifestyle source (at countryculture.co), the Farmer Olympics will feature five events that will test strength, speed and agility. The events will be divided up by age class for both farmers and other attendees to compete in. Events featured include a bale toss, hay bale hurdles, a sledgehammer throw, an egg toss and a tire flip. Competitors are invited to enter into as many contests as they see fit.
Ribbons and prizes will be awarded to winners in each age group.
In addition, on Tuesday, Aug. 2 and Wednesday, Aug. 3 there will be kiddy tractor pulls with trophies awarded for our smaller competitors.
Country Culture and Lee Trade Shows wants to see if you have what it takes to win the blue ribbon at this year’s Empire Farm Days. To learn more about the show, be sure to visit empirefarmdays.leetradeshows.com.
Empire Farm Days welcome back Gus the Braham as well as new exhibitors
Gus the Brahman is a saddle-broke American Brahman steer. He’s owned by Dan and Charlene Welsh of Palmerton, PA. They take him to events to help promote not only the Brahman breed but agriculture as a whole. People of all ages can sit in the saddle and have their pictures taken (for a small fee).
Gus’s “picture pen” was custom built by Frisbie Welding LLC. Stop by their booth on Aug. 3 and get your pictures with Gus.
As for what’s new – one of Empire Farm Days’ new exhibitors will be showcasing an electric skid steer. FirstGreen Industries (at firstgreenindustries.com) is being brought by Northeast Equipment Connections. Come see what electric farm equipment can do!
Speaking of alternative energy, if you’re interested, stop by and visit with Ducted Wind Products (ductedwind.com). Their focus is providing the lowest cost per kWh in the small turbine market, reducing the time for ROI on your investment versus conventional open rotor wind turbines.
Another new piece of equipment to check out is the compact articulated loader from Hummerbee (hummerbee.com). Small but mighty, this loader is a great skid steer alternative.
Overall, there will be more than 350 exhibitors on hand for the largest outdoor summer farm show in New York. There is something for any farmer, rural landowner and homesteader at Empire Farm Days.
Empire Farm Days will be taking place Aug. 2 – 4 at Palladino Farms in Pompey, NY. Those that wish to reserve space should contact Lee Trade Shows soon as possible. Contact Ken Maring, trade show manager, at 800.215.5586 or kmaring@leepub.com or Bruce Button at 518.673.0104 or bbutton@leepub.com.
The show is produced by Country Folks newspaper, Country Folks Grower Magazine and Country Culture. See news and updates on EmpireFarmDays.com or the show’s Facebook or Instagram pages.
Changes for Empire Farm Days 2022
February 5, 2022
Next year’s event is going to have several noticeable changes. The management has heard from vendors and attendees and has made changes that will make the show run smoother and be more attendee and vendor friendly.
There will be internal trams running on the East and West Main Streets of Country Folks Way and Palladino Farm Way during the show and also on two lanes that run North to South.
Benches and water stations will be placed throughout the show for attendee use because there is a lot to see!
The food area will be moved to the top of the hill adjacent to the show entrance and will feature an express lane for grab and go items, plus the chicken BBQ and other BBQ specialties. A covered seating area will be there also. Vendors will be able to order meals to be delivered to them in the morning or on an app on their phone. The trams will have a drop off and pick up area near this. There will also be a group of Food Trucks on the site for quick for a great variety of quick food!
A Public Address system will be installed to allow for announcements and the singing of the National Anthem at the beginning of the show each day.
Move in for field areas will be changed also. If the exhibitor doesn’t need a loading dock, they will be directed to their booth area and unloaded there. This will eliminate a long wait at the dock and speed up their load-in times. This also means we will be sending out set up times to them that will need to be adhered to.
With Covid behind us, we will be having an Event Tent again that can host seminars and Luncheons. Those that wish to reserve space and time should contact us a soon as possible. Contact Ken Maring -Trade Show manager at 800-215-5586 or kmaring@leepub.com or Sales Manager Bruce Button at 518-673-0104 or bbutton@leepub.com. There is an early pricing deadline of March 15, 2022 for getting space reserved for this years show.
The show is produced by Country Folks weekly farm newspaper, Country Folks GROWER magazine and Country Culture digital/social media. All are owned by Lee Newspapers Inc, Palatine Bridge NY 13428.
