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Clinton County Fair opens with state funding announcement and community recognitions
Summary
The Clinton County Fair opened its 78th annual week with an invocation, speeches by state and local officials, a Department of Agriculture announcement of more than $7 million in fair-support funding and a planned $1,000,000 statewide marketing campaign, scholarships for two seniors and a ceremonial ribbon-cutting.
Vern Bruno, emcee and director on the Clinton County Fair board, opened the 78th annual Clinton County Fair with a welcome and introductions, inviting Father Chris Newby to deliver the invocation and the Post 1619 American Legion honor guard and local law enforcement to present the colors.
"My name is Vern Bruno, and I'm on the board of directors for the Clinton County Fair," Bruno told the crowd as he introduced fair leaders and visiting officials. He asked attendees to support fair vendors and thanked sponsors, staff and volunteers who help stage the event each year.
State and local elected officials offered brief remarks. New York State Senator Dan Steck called the fair "a big deal" and urged residents to enjoy fair week as an opportunity to learn where food comes from and to celebrate local agriculture. "It's great to be here for the kickoff of this fair," Steck said.
Assemblyman Mike Cashman, introduced as representing the 115th Assembly District, also encouraged attendees to visit the barns and support 4-H and FFA programming, saying: "Simply put, no farms, no food."
In a longer presentation, Kate McDonald, assistant director of the Division of Agricultural Development at the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, praised county fairs as educational community institutions and summarized recent state investments. McDonald said the governor has committed "over $7,000,000 in the 2026 budget" to programs supporting fairs and related youth and transportation initiatives. She also announced that "the state will soon be launching a $1,000,000 marketing campaign this summer" to promote the 50 county fairs statewide and noted an existing "passport program" that encourages visitors to attend multiple fairs.
The ceremony included local acknowledgments and updates. Clinton County legislator Mark Henry (chairperson) and legislator Kevin Bridal thanked volunteers and county staff; Bridal described a local appropriation of approximately $55,000 to support a fair-related project and thanked county administrators for their work to finalize the agreement under budget.
The fair awarded two $500 scholarships to graduating seniors: Gavin Yastrzemski, a 2026 graduate planning to attend Paul Smith's program in environmental conservation and forestry, and Hannah Stenberg, a graduate planning to study as a veterinary technician. The 2026 Dairy Princess, Kyla Reyer, was introduced before the benediction.
The opening ceremony concluded with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting involving Senator Steck and Assemblyman Cashman and closing remarks from event organizers. Organizers also noted that the FFA barn has been named in honor of Homer Bushey and thanked Hometown Cable TV for coverage.
The Clinton County Fair's opening ceremony emphasized community volunteers, youth programming and recent state-level commitments to support fairs; fair events and competitions continue through the week.
