SUNY Morrisville brings its innovation, animals, drag car, food, virtual reality experience and cannabis display to The New York State Fair

Published date
4 p.m.

MORRISVILLE, N.Y. — SUNY Morrisville will bring its innovation, animals, drag car, a cannabis display, a virtual reality experience with giveaway viewers and exciting hands-on approach to learning to the Great New York State Fair again this year. The fair runs Aug. 21-Sept. 2. 

Get an up-close view of a student-built hot rod, a renewable energy display and catch a lumber jack demonstration by SUNY Morrisville’s Woods Sports Team. Watch our draft horse hitch compete, sample food and treats made in our very own Nelson Farms facility, take home some SUNY Morrisville swag, and play a plinko game for a chance to win products developed at Nelson Farms by students.  

Check out a virtual reality experience, with 360-degree videos of some of the college’s most distinctive hands-on learning locations, including cannabis fields, automotive labs, equine riding arenas, a milking parlor and more.

K9 Officer Bruin and his K9 handler, New York State University Police Officer Nicole Wright ’11, will also be visiting throughout the fair.  

In the SUNY Morrisville building

Fairgoers can learn about the college’s academic programs in SUNY Morrisville’s building, located near Gate 4 by the Toyota Coliseum and the Iroquois Indian Village, where displays trumpet the engaging, one-of-a-kind learning going on inside and outside of SUNY Morrisville classrooms.  

See horses from the college’s equine programs and the college’s showcase Mustang car. Students in the college’s automotive programs transformed the 1988 Mustang into a 550-horse power dragster that accelerates to 130 mph in 10 seconds.  

Check out renewable energy and massage therapy displays, as well as a cannabis exhibit, where you can learn about the college’s research in the cannabis industry and its new minor in cannabis studies. Get a free chair massage from massage therapy students on Tuesday, Aug. 27. 

Alumni also can access materials to find fellow classmates, enjoy history about the college and get caught up on what’s new. Join fellow alumni on Alumni Day, Saturday, Aug. 24, for happy hour from 5-7 p.m.

In the Horticulture Building

Learn more about Morrisville’s programs, see a small aquarium with prehistoric arthropods, and grab some swag from SUNY Morrisville’s exhibit in the Horticulture Building. 

Fairgoers can purchase a variety of items from Nelson Farms, which is heading up the fair’s retail store offering food products grown and produced in New York State. Products sourced from vendors all over New York State, in addition to items made by SUNY Morrisville students, will be available including salsas, jams, barbecue sauces, granola, fudge, maple, honey, coffee, spices, candy and popcorn.  

Other locations

The college’s hands-on approach to learning is evidenced in other locations throughout the fair, too.  

Equine faculty and students will hone their skills as they compete with the college’s Belgian hitch Aug. 29-Sept. 1 in the Toyota Coliseum, near the dairy barn. Admission to the horse show is free. Morrisville is the only college in North America to compete with a six-horse hitch.

See more information about the college in the dairy and FFA buildings. There will also be a dairy reproduction station for the 4-H dairy challenge, a knowledge competition for New York youth, on Wednesday, Aug. 21. 

The college’s dairy judging team will be at the fair on Thursday, Aug. 22, and Friday, Aug. 30, practicing and competing to make this fall’s Dairy Judging Team.  

Students in the Dairy Club also will be covering the night watch at the calf birthing center Thursday through Monday, Aug. 22- Sept. 2. 

See how students at SUNY Morrisville are developing their skills in the ring as they competitively show sheep in the sheep arena, Tuesday and Wednesday, Aug. 27- 28.

The college will participate in Ag Careers Day Thursday, Aug. 22, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Gate 2 in front of the State Fair Administration Building. Morrisville will showcase its agriculture programs, which lead to dynamic local and international careers within the food system. See an array of products developed by students and produce from the Horticulture Institute’s organic farm and play a plinko game for a chance to win products developed at Nelson Farms by SUNY Morrisville students.