The Farm Journal Foundation, the New York Department of Agriculture and Markets, and the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) Foundation celebrated the grand opening of the New York Voice of the Farmer Garden at the Great New York State Fair.
The New York Voice of the Farmer Garden is the first statewide garden of its kind to open at a state fair in the U.S. It features over 35 varieties of vegetable crops, herbs, fruits, and pollinator plants. Visitors can learn about New York State agriculture on a walking tour with QR codes that they can scan to watch videos on their mobile phones. They can also talk to CCE Master Gardener Volunteers and CCE Onondaga staff, and children can enjoy the shelled corn wading pool containing tokens to learn about a crop and win a prize.
The garden is located across from the Expo Center near the Goat Pavilion. It is a living, interactive learning space for visitors to see many of the major crops grown in New York, learn about important agricultural issues, and watch engaging videos of farmers and others in the food supply chain telling the story of agriculture.
Farm Journal Foundation’s Voice of the Farmer Garden program began in 2019 with an experiential learning garden on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. It is now expanding to state venues across the country, including state fairs, universities, and state departments of agriculture. In addition to New York, a state garden in New Mexico is planned for later this year, with others expected in 2024.
Photo Credit: pexels-greta-hoffman
Categories: New York, Crops, Corn, Fruits and Vegetables