Home of the Dutchess Fair

AUGUST 23-28, 2022

Dutchess County Agricultural Society, Inc.

A Tradition of Excellence

The Dutchess County Agricultural Society, Inc. is a non-profit 501c3 corporation. The 80-member society is made up of interested men and women who elect the 16-member Board of Directors. This group oversees all aspects of the operation of the fair and all off-season events. The President/CEO works with and communicates directly with the Board. A permanent staff of ten produces various events and maintains the 147-acre facility throughout the year. The number of paid staff and volunteers during the fair grows to several hundred.

Our Vision & Mission

The Dutchess County Agricultural Society’s vision is a society actively engaged in the pursuit and promotion of our rural and agricultural heritage, from neighborhood backyards to family farms and commercial enterprises.

Our mission is the promotion of agriculture, horticulture, mechanical and domestic arts, fine arts, and allied sciences through education, instruction, display, and competition.

Who We Are

  • We are an 80-member non-profit association
    • 16 directors who meet monthly
    • 20 committees
    • $10 annual dues
    • The society meets formally 3 times per year
    • Volunteer time is a requirement for membership
  • We are a private 501c3
  • The Fairgrounds encompass 147 acres, straddling the Village and Town of Rhinebeck
  • 10 full-time employees year-round
  • 75 seasonal employees full-time and part-time
  • Approximately 300 Fair employees full-time and part-time

Funding

  • We receive no funding from Dutchess County or other local government
  • All agricultural fairs in New York State receive premium money through NYS Ag & Markets
    • The money received from NYS Ag & Markets plus additional funds donated by the Society is given to the Dutchess County Cornell Cooperative Extension for 4-H premiums
  • Three-quarters of our annual income is made at the Fair
  • Many of the events held at the Fairgrounds are donated grounds and staffing for non-profit programming or fundraising

Events

The Dutchess County Fairgrounds is a premier destination for Hudson Valley fair and festival-goers. The multitude of activities scheduled at the Fairgrounds is as varied as the weather. National Geographic, Fodor’s, and Time Magazine have recently listed the Hudson Valley and Rhinebeck as “Top Places to Visit” in the world. Join us to experience the “Tradition of Excellence”.

Community Support

  • The Dutchess County Agricultural Society donated $10,000 in 2009 for the purchase of a mobile fire-fighting apparatus for the Rhinebeck Fire Department.
  • The Society donated $100,000 towards the Capital Building Fund for the Northern Dutchess Hospital for its previous expansion.
  • The helipad located on the Fairgrounds was installed and is maintained at the Society’s expense. In addition to airlifted transports, it has been used for staging local emergency operations.
  • The Fairgrounds provides the grounds for the staging of the American Legion’s Annual Memorial Day Parade, Soccer field usage, and parking for Porchfest.
  • The Society purchased and donated bicycles and Flat-screen TVs for the Rhinebeck Village Police.
  • The Rhinebeck Village Police Department was housed in the Hall of Health Building on the Fairgrounds at no charge for 13 years. When the building had to be rebuilt due to structural issues, the Village did not accept the offer to rebuild the station on the Fairgrounds.
  • Northern Dutchess Hospital Annual Gala is held at the Fairgrounds free of charge.
  • Hundreds of thousands of dollars are raised at the various non-profit fundraising activities held at the Fairgrounds at no charge.
  • The Fairgrounds has offered its resources, including a 230 kW portable generator and our facility to local municipalities in the event of an emergency.

Other Activities

  • The Dutchess County Agricultural Society pays $8,000 each year for 4 college scholarships.
  • A long-range plan for the Society is to relocate local historical buildings to the Fairgrounds to create an “Antique Village,” depicting life in 19th century Hudson Valley.

PO Box 389 Rhinebeck, NY 12572
(845) 876-4000
www.dutchessfair.com