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Agriculture shows, conventions help boost CNY economy

04/08/2009

Source: Syracuse.com

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Geddes, NY -- More than 4,000 people are in town for the Dairy Carousel that starts today at the state fairgrounds in Geddes -- the largest dairy cattle show in the Northeast.

Sure, if you don't own cattle, the five-day event might mean very little.

But look beyond the Holsteins, Guernseys and Brown Swiss. Those 4,000 people from 20 or so different states and Canada will be spending big bucks while they're here, filling their trucks and cars with gas, getting lunch or dinner at area restaurants and fast-food joints or buying some groceries at the local store.

In all, about 15 to 20 agricultural shows and conventions each year bring nearly 20,000 people to the area. These folks spend about $12 million while they're here.

And that doesn't count the 35 livestock shows at the fairgrounds throughout the year (there's a horse show there almost every weekend) nor the state's largest agricultural exhibition -- the state fair.

All those people and all that spending helps merchants, local government and ultimately, local residents.

And shows like this keep rolling in all year long.

About 225 people are set to attend the International Association of Fairs and Exhibitions convention for Zone 1 (the Northeast) April 30 through May 3 at the DoubleTree Hotel in DeWitt.

The New York Farm Show brings in 27,100 people and most attend the show just one day, said show director Scott Grigor. Nearly one-third of them -- or more than 8,000 -- come to the show from outside Central New York.

This summer, the American Jersey Cattle Association and World Jersey Cattle Bureau will come to the DoubleTree with about 350 attendees from across the country and the world paying for close to 600 nights in hotel rooms. The economic impact is about $335,000.

Then there is the state fair. It attracts visitors from throughout the state and the East Coast for its nearly two-week run.

"It's huge money," said David Holder, president of the Syracuse Convention and Visitors Bureau. "They are out there in our hotels, restaurants and looking for things to do."

All of this spending trickles down from merchants to municipalities and benefits Central New Yorkers through the sales tax visitors pay on everything from hotels, food and miscellaneous items to entertainment and gasoline. That money is collected by the county and split among villages and towns.

So even a town like Clay, that may never host a farm show or dairy association convention, reaps the benefits. It means less property tax money town residents have to shell out to rebuild roads or buy highway equipment.

Shopping is the No. 1 way out-of-towners attending ag events pump cash into the coffers of local shops and generate sales tax for the county, Holder said.
Most of the agriculture-related events are held at the state fairgrounds, Holiday Inn in Salina or DoubleTree in DeWitt. The Syracuse Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Holiday Inn each have a salesperson who works to bring more and more such events to the area.

Rachel Arcaro, visitors bureau salesperson, said the fairgrounds is a huge draw for bringing events here.

"It's familiar to most people and it has all the facilities groups need," she said.

State Fair Director Dan O'Hara said yearly improvements to the fairgrounds keep longtime events coming back and draw new ones each year.

"There are 35 livestock shows at the fairgrounds during the year and 5,100 exhibitors at the state fair," O'Hara said. "On the weekends, we are full of agricultural shows. For the state fair, every hotel in this region is booked. We're looking at millions of dollars."

Another draw for Central New York is the region's central location.

That was a consideration for the American Jersey Cattle Association. Chuck Luchsinger, a Jersey cattle farmer from Onondaga Hill, said it was New York's turn to host the convention. It was in the Albany area in 1995.

"They thought Syracuse was a good area because it's accessible to everyone and it's an interesting area," Luchsinger said.

The Jersey cattle folks will be based at the DoubleTree Hotel, but will be spending money all over Central New York. They have a golf outing in Marcellus planned, some will travel to Cornell University for a tour, there's a heifer sale at the fairgrounds and time for shopping and visiting Skaneateles.

Sharon Ianzito, association sales manager at the DoubleTree, said the hotel attracts a lot of agriculture-related events because it allows local and New York state products to be displayed during.

"We also will take these products and make meals with them while they're here," she said. "We have a great relationship with the ag industry."

Central New York's natural beauty helps sell it as a place agricultural people want to meet, Luchsinger said.

Many of the Jersey cattle board members had visited or traveled through Syracuse before.

"They said it's a pretty city. It's not flat farmland and it's not hot all the time," Luchsinger said. "The area has lakes and pretty scenery. They say it has serene beauty."