A weekend visit to the New York State Fairgrounds revealed some preparations underway with opening day 17 days away. The exterior of the new sheep barn looks great as work continues to have it ready for its woolly inhabitants and Fair visitors when the gates open. Nearby, new horse stables are nearing completion.

Meanwhile, the Iroquois longhouse has been demolished. There may be time to rebuild before opening day and it wouldn’t be the first time a new one has been erected in the off-season, that having been accomplished before the 2011 Fair after the 2000 original collapsed in a storm. We hope to see a new one, if not this year, then next year for sure.