The Great New York State Fair provides valuable experience for SUNY Morrisville students, faculty and staff

The Great New York State Fair wrapped up this week, providing countless experiences for not only visitors and participants, but volunteers, too!

For SUNY Morrisville students, faculty and staff who volunteer every year, the fair is an experience beyond 13 days of iconic culinary options, thrilling amusement rides and captivating entertainment.

"I volunteer to get as much practice as I can," said Emma Weisbrodt, a dairy science student from Tully, who was among members of the college's Dairy Judging Team helping with 4-H judging in the Cattle Barn.

"On-site experience is the best and we are practicing content for our competitions throughout the fall," Weisbrodt said.

With her was Dairy Judging Team Coach Jessica Kennedy '16, and dairy students Rosie Hines and Hanna Brenchley.

"I do it to get more experience and I always enjoy the fair and interacting with the public," Hines said. "We are getting the public aware of what we actually do."

SUNY Morrisville was present throughout the fair in multiple locations, including the horticulture building, where participants got an up-close look at Blatticomposting, a technique that uses cockroaches to convert human food wastes into compost. Faculty and staff also answered questions and talked about the engaging, one-of-a-kind learning going on inside and outside of SUNY Morrisville classrooms.

Volunteers also gained experience talking with participants about their classes and labs, and what makes the college unique. And they got a chance to make industry connections and tout some of its horses.

Kimberly Apgar, equine instructional support assistant, was in the new interactive 4-H for Horses Building demonstrating various equine rehabilitation techniques.

The college's alluring Belgian Hitch, wowed fairgoers in several competitions at the Toyota Coliseum.

Equine intern students Lanna Argentieri, of Au Sable Forks, Summer Billings of Tamworth, New Hampshire, Camrynn Utter, of Hannibal and Sierra Tweedie, of Walton, gained valuable experience grooming and getting the college's Belgians show ready, led by Scott Seymour.

"It's been a great experience for me," said Argentieri. "I grew up jumping and I get to learn a different side of the equine industry."

"I am just excited to show and to travel with a different hitch," said Utter, who has been working with various hitches for eight years.

"Overall the Belgian hitch had a good show with the students representing the college in a professional manner to fellow competitors and the public," Seymour said.

Members of the college's University Police Department enlightened fairgoers about the college's Police Academy. The Madison County Regional Phase I Police Academy, offered through SUNY Morrisville, with the assistance of the Madison County Sheriff's Department and the New York State University Police, is designed for current civilian or non-sworn New York State residents who are interested in entering the law enforcement field as a police officer in New York State.