Month: March 2019

 

The Erie County Agricultural Society is proud to announce that Kane Brown has been added to the 2019 Gusto Grandstand lineup at the 180^th Erie County Fair. Brown will take to the stage on Monday, August 12^th, 2019 at 8pm.  General admission tickets will be priced at $55; reserved seats $75/$90 and go on sale to the general public Thursday, March 28^th at 10am.

 

“We are excited to feature an evening with Kane Brown as part of the Erie County Fair’s Gusto Grandstand lineup,” said CEO & Fair Manager Jessica Underberg. “What Brown has accomplished in the music industry in such a short period of time is absolutely amazing. We are anticipating that this concert will be one of the biggest Grandstand events in recent years.”

 

As one of country music’s most compelling rising stars, Brown’s latest album, Experiment, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart during the fall of 2018. With that honor, Brown joined Carrie Underwood and Jason Aldean as the only country artists to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. The singer is also the first male country artist to debut at the top with a sophomore release in 24 years. The last artist to equal that feat was Tim McGraw in 1994.

 

In 2018, Brown earned his first ACM award nomination as New Male Vocalist of the Year, as well as a CMT Music Awards Breakthrough Video of the Year nod for “Used to Love You Sober.”  The Georgia native ended a successful 2018 with the reveal of a new single called “Good As You.”  The song was the second single off “Experiment,” and follows the previous No. 1 hit, “Lose It.” Brown picked up Favorite Male Artist — Country, Favorite Song — Country and Favorite Album — Country at the 2018 American Music Awards — all three of the categories in which he was nominated. His trio of wins make Brown, per CMT, the country artist to win the most AMAs in a single night without having won one previously.

 

The Academy of Country Music has nominated Brown’s latest hit, “Heaven,” for 2019 Song of the Year. Brown is also scheduled to perform on the national televised award show that will air on Sunday, April 7^th.

 

Tickets for Kane Brown will go on sale to the general public at 10a, Thursday, March 28^th at Tickets.com, by phone at 1-888-223-6000, or in person at the Fairgrounds Main Office. Office hours are Monday-Friday from 9:00a-4:30p. Tickets purchased prior to the day of the show include admission to the Erie County Fair on the day of the performance.

 

The Erie County Fair has chosen a fun, creative word to describe the “Best 12 Days of Summer” in Western New York. “Summerific” has been announced as part of the launch of the Fair’s 2019 branding initiative.

 

The 2019 campaign will embody the dynamic, textured, fun-filled atmosphere that is uniquely the Erie County Fair. The illustration style combines happy, brightly colored objects, shapes and typography. The design bubbles over with joy and anticipation. The experience is colorful, connected and one-of-a-kind. An experience so big, so amazing, so incredibly fun, that it’s – Summerific!

 

“It’s the feeling you have when the weather is warm, the days are long and the summer just can’t get any better,” said Erie County Fair CEO Jessica Underberg. “It’s a place where the food tastes amazing, the music makes you dance, and everyone has a smile. It’s the lights, the excitement, the thrills and the heartbeats. Celebrating tradition with unexpected discovery and creating new memories for every age. It’s a place where wide-eyed wonder abounds. From animals and antics – from fireworks to friends.”

 

To further describe Summerific, it’s twelve jammed-packed days where you find everything you love about summer in one fantastic place. It’s Summerific. It’s the Erie County Fair.

 

The Erie County Fair partnered with Buffalo’s Wynne Creative Group, a nationally recognized marketing and branding firm, to develop the 2019 branding campaign. Wynne Creative Group has served the Erie County Fair since 2003. Wynne Creative Group specializes in design, brand development and advertising. In 2018, Erie County Fair was recognized internationally with the “Best Overall Marketing Campaign in North America” award by the International Association of Fairs and Expositions.

 

The 180th Erie County Fair will be held August 7th – 18th, 2019. (www.ECFair.org)

The Erie County Agricultural Society (ECAS) is pleased to present up to $20,000 in scholarship opportunities to students who participate in the Erie County Fair. Scholarships are awarded based on general Fair participation and those involved in agricultural related activities. Since its inception in the 1950s, the scholarship program’s goal has been to connect the region’s students with agriculture, business, and volunteerism. Two scholarship categories are available:

 

The Erie County Fair Scholarships seeks students who are enrolled or enrolling in a college or university. These students must have participated in the Erie County Fair in some capacity in order to be eligible. Participation includes, but is not limited to, employment, exhibition, volunteering, marching band, or other performances.

 

The Erie County Agricultural Society Scholarship is limited to students who are pursuing an agriculture related career. Students must be enrolled or enrolling in a college or university and must be able to describe how their field of study will help them in their agricultural endeavors. Applicants must show participation in the Erie County Fair or Erie County Agricultural Society sponsored activities.

 

Eligible applicants do not have to attend a college in Erie County or be residents of New York State.

 

The 2019 scholarship applications are available online  https://www.ecfair.org/p/other/scholarships or at area high schools and colleges. The application postmark deadline is April 12, 2019. Questions regarding the scholarship program should be directed to the Erie County Agricultural Society’s Maria Lucero at 716-649-3900 ext. 6413.

 

The growth of Western New York’s home cider industry, along with continued consumer acceptance of the adult beverage, has prompted the Erie County Fair to add a home hard cider competition to its Competitive Exhibits program. Beginning Monday April 1^st and continuing until Friday, April 5^th, cider making hobbyists will have the opportunity to submit their hard cider for judging. Once named the 2019 “Erie County Fair Best In Show Cider,” the winning home hard cider will receive a gold medal for excelling and then be professionally reproduced by BlackBird Cider Works for sale during the Fair.

 

“Hard cider has become a tasty, gluten free beverage option for many who are looking for an alternative to beer,” said Paula Smith, Manager of Competitive Exhibits. “The Erie County Fair is proud to partner with Barker, New York’s BlackBird Cider Works to increase the visibility of cider in the region and to honor the region’s talented home cider makers.”

 

A $20 entry fee allows home cider makers to submit hard ciders in categorical styles that include modern cider, fruit cider, hop cider, spiced cider, wood-aged cider and an “anything goes” class. Any New York State resident is eligible to enter the competition. Judging is scheduled to take place Saturday, April 27^th inside the Fair’s Ag-Grange Building. Top ciders will be selected through a blind tasting panel made up of two, cider industry knowledgeable, judges.

 

Home hard cider makers interested in entering the competition can find complete rules and guidelines on the Erie County Fair’s website at https://bit.ly/2tWfURm. Entries can be dropped off on Monday, April 1^st through Friday, April 5^th between 9am and 5pm (with a copy of the entry form) to the Main Office of the Fairgrounds OR the Buffalo Cider Hall located at 155 Chandler Street on April 4^th or 5^th between the hours of 4p and 10p.

 

The judging of hard cider is just one of the competitions held annually by the Erie County Fair. In 2019, over 13,000 entries are expected to be received and judged by the Fair’s Competitive Exhibits Office. The wide range of ribbon winning categories include agriculture, conservation and creative arts, among others. Entry information for all other categories will be available online starting May 1st.

 

About the Erie County Fair

The Erie County Agricultural Society is a private not-for-profit membership organization. Established in 1819, the Society is the oldest civic organization in Western New York. The mission of the Erie County Agricultural Society (ECAS), sponsors of the Erie County Fair, is to preserve and enhance, by educational endeavors, the agricultural and historical legacy of New York State. The Fair strives to fulfill appropriate aspects of the agricultural, educational, entertainment and recreational needs of Western New York.  The 180th Erie County Fair will be held August 7th – 18th, 2019 (www.ECFair.org).

 

About BlackBird Cider Works

Producer of award-winning hard ciders sourced from Western New York grown apples. Founded in 2006 by Scott Donovan after the purchase of a commercial apple orchard in the Town of Somerset, Niagara County, New York. In 2011 the first production run of cider was completed with the opening of the BlackBird Cider Works tasting room in March of 2012.  BlackBird Cider Works is distributed in seven states in locally by Try-It Distributing. In 2018 Donovan opened the Buffalo Cider Hall located on Chandler Street in the historic Black Rock neighborhood of Buffalo. (www.blackbirdciders.com)

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