A groundbreaking ceremony was held Friday for the new New York Future Farmers of America Building at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse. State officials say the location will ensure FFA students can continue to showcase New York agriculture to New Yorkers visiting the New York State Fair. The Governor joined New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Commissioner Richard A. Ball, Office of General Services Commissioner Jeanette Moy, New York State Fair Director Julie LaFave, and representatives from New York FFA to officially break ground on the new FFA Building, which will be a 10,500 square foot facility featuring a large exhibition space for FFA students to showcase their work, in addition to conference areas and more. Partners from Cornell College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, National FFA, and the New York State legislature additionally joined to celebrate the milestone in FFA history at the New York State Fair.
The new building is part of a $34.7 million project to improve agricultural facilities at the Fairgrounds in Syracuse, first announced by the Governor in 2022. In addition to the FFA Building, improvements will also include a new show space for goats, completed last year, as well as an upcoming new sheep barn and wool center, new horse barn, both of which are scheduled to be ready for the 2025 Fair, and more. The Governor’s Executive Budget this year additionally includes $35 million for investments in the Fair’s Chevy Court and Suburban Park spaces to enhance the Fair’s entertainment experiences for concertgoers. The new FFA Building is expected to be complete by the 2026 Fair.
As part of the groundbreaking ceremony, Commissioner Ball announced the creation of a time capsule, which will be filled with historical items from FFA’s past and present and sealed when the ribbon is cut on the FFA Building. The Commissioner dedicated the time capsule’s first entry, clips from several Agricultural Teacher Bulletins from 1926 to 1929, which showcase reports of the development of the Association of New York Young Farmers Club affiliation with FFA. Commissioner Ball additionally challenged each FFA chapter across the state to find or create an item meaningful to their chapter to go in the time capsule before it is sealed next year.
New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, “There’s a long list of things that make The Great New York State Fair the best in the nation, but its continued focus on agriculture is what truly sets it apart, and its deep partnership with FFA has been a huge part of that. I can’t think of a better way to celebrate this powerful program’s centennial than by breaking ground on a new building that will help introduce a whole new generation of young people to the value of our industry and inspire them to pursue meaningful careers in agriculture. I want to thank our Governor, our partners across the state, and of course our very own NY FFA who share this vision and make it a priority – because of their work, I know the future of agriculture is bright.”
New York State FFA Director Juleah Tolosky said, “For 100 years, New York FFA has empowered students to lead, serve, and grow in agriculture and beyond. This new building at the Fairgrounds is more than a structure — it’s a symbol of what happens when we invest in young people and believe in their potential. We’re grateful to Governor Hochul and Commissioner Ball and our partners across the state for supporting a vision that honors our past while building a stronger future for agricultural education.”
New York State Fair Director Julie LaFave said, “The Great New York State Fair is a tradition rooted in agriculture, and our work with the New York State FFA has been the driving force behind keeping this tradition alive. Here at the Fair, these incredible students showcase their projects, participate in competitions, and teach tens of thousands of Fairgoers what New York agriculture is all about. We’re thrilled to help this remarkable organization celebrate its 100th anniversary by investing in a new building right here at the Fair that will help spotlight their work and introduce more young people to the importance of this industry. I congratulate FFA on their centennial, and thank Governor Hochul, a 4-H kid who knows firsthand the value of ag education, for her support of this critical investment.”
