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Union Agricultural Society At Palmyra

Palmyra, NY · EIN 150551405 · Form 990 · FY2024 · Small ($100K-$1M) · waynecountyfair.org
revenue
$351K
expenses
$341K
net assets
$512K
employees
2
program ratio
91%
mission · from form 990

Manage the property and concerns of said Society as well as to promote the education and interest of agriculture, horticulture and the mechanic arts and to hold a week-long fair annually in August.

profile · synthesized from sources

Nonprofit organization based in Palmyra, NY, that operates the Wayne County Fair annually to promote agriculture, youth development, and community heritage. The fair features competitive youth exhibitions, livestock shows, educational activities, and entertainment. The organization manages fairgrounds property and supports agricultural education through partnerships with 4-H, Grange, and local businesses.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $0
    N/A
  2. #2 $0
    N/A
named programs · 5 · from sources

What they call their work

4-H Exhibitions
Youth showcase and competition in livestock, agriculture, and domestic arts projects
Grandstand Events
Entertainment programming including tractor pulls, demolition derbies, rodeo, harness racing, and stunt shows
Our Tasting Event
Wine, beer, spirits, and farm market tasting event showcasing Finger Lakes region producers
Royalty Pageant
Youth leadership competition that selects the Wayne County Fair Queen and Princess to promote agriculture and represent the fair
Wayne County Fair
Annual six-day county fair featuring youth exhibitions, livestock competitions, educational displays, and community events
activities · 6 groups

What they do

  • County and Regional Agricultural Fair Management 6 activities
    • Host ancillary events during the fair
      Organizes square dancing and tasting events during the fair to enhance community engagement and entertainment offerings.
    • Host grandstand events during the fair
      Organizes and presents grandstand events such as tractor pulls, demolition derbies, rodeo, and stunt shows as part of the annual Wayne County Fair programming.
    • Host youth and community competitive exhibitions at the fair
      Provides opportunities for youth and community members to exhibit and compete in livestock, non-livestock, 4-H, agricultural, and domestic projects, with hundreds of participants annually.
    • Initiate and manage the Wayne County Fair Royalty Pageant
      Established and oversees the Wayne County Fair Royalty Pageant as a youth leadership and recognition program.
    • Organize and operate the annual Wayne County Fair
      Plans, promotes, and runs a week-long fair each August to advance agriculture, horticulture, and mechanical arts, attracting approximately 32,000 to 35,000 attendees annually. The event includes competitive exhibits, youth programs, and community engagement activities.
    • Provide vendor and exhibitor spaces
      Offers indoor and outdoor vending areas for businesses, groups, and organizations to promote products and services at the fair.
  • Volunteer-Supported Arts & Cultural Operations 1 activity
    • Engage volunteers to support fair operations
      Mobilizes volunteers to assist in creating a welcoming and well-run experience for guests during the Wayne County Fair.
  • Animal-Assisted Support Services 1 activity
    • Facilitate inclusive access for service dogs
      Provides lanyard passes to handlers of service dogs after verifying documentation and health compliance, ensuring inclusive access to fair events and facilities.
  • After-School Academic and Enrichment Programs 1 activity
    • Oversee an after-school youth program
      Operates an after-school program serving 50 to 90 students daily with structured activities, mentorship, and a safe environment.
  • Managed Campground and Retreat Operations 1 activity
    • Provide camping facilities at the fairgrounds
      Operates 100 state-approved campsites with restroom facilities, showers, and a free dump station for those with paid reservations, available seasonally from June through September, including during the annual fair.
  • Uncategorized 2 activities
    • Manage fairground exhibit logistics
      Oversees exhibit setup and takedown schedules, with designated hours for exhibitor access and enforcement of rules to prevent early removal of exhibits.
    • Operate fair admissions and ticketing systems
      Offers daily admission tickets, pay-one-price ride bracelets, and weekly admission passes with tiered and discounted pricing based on age, timing, and purchase method.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$351K
Contributions & grants$166K47%
Program service revenue$278K79%
Investment income$140%
Other revenue$-93K
expenses
Total expenses$341K
Program expenses91%
Admin / overhead9%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$3K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineOther
balance sheet
Total assets$561K
Cash$53K
Investments$0
Liabilities$49K
Net assets$512K
Liquid reserves1.9 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue +11.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 2
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
Kelsey Hamilton Secretary 16 $2K
Jennifer Burger Treasurer 16 $2K
board members · 12
  • Brian Burger — Director
  • Craig Wert — Director
  • Laurie McFaul-Frey — Director
  • Mark Read — Director
  • Matthew Shaw Sr — Director
  • Michael Gladstone — Director
  • Pamela Ferranti — President
  • Sarah Hamilton — Director
  • Tom Moll — Director
  • Tyler Hares — Vice President
  • Wendy Miller — Director
  • William Petty — Director
relationships · 18

Who they work with

  • 4-H Partner — Collaborates with the Union Agricultural Society to support youth agricultural education and competition at the fair.
  • 4-H Division Partner — Collaborates with the 4-H Division for exhibits and adherence to dismissal schedules at the fair.
  • 4-H Families Partner — Collaborates with the organization to present events during the fair.
  • Fair Board of directors Partner — Collaborated with the Fair Board of directors to initiate the Wayne County Fair Royalty Pageant.
  • Friends of the Fair Partner — Volunteer committee supporting the Wayne County Fair and Union Agricultural Society at Palmyra.
  • Grange Partner — Supports the fair through volunteer and organizational involvement.
  • JM Productions Partner — Partner organization responsible for producing and operating the Demolition Derby and other grandstand events at the Wayne County Fair.
  • Macedon Town Office Partner — Partner location for in-person sale of weekly fair passes.
  • New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Government — References NYS Animal Health Requirements for service dogs at events.
  • Palmyra Town Office Partner — Partner location for in-person sale of weekly fair passes.
  • Wayne County Agricultural Fair Partner — Co-presents and operates under joint branding with the Wayne County Agricultural Fair.
  • Wayne County Board of Supervisors Government — Provides annual financial support for 4-H class awards at the Wayne County Fair.
  • Wayne County Fair Network — Hosts camping and facilities use at the fairgrounds location of the annual Wayne County Fair.
  • Wayne County Fair Partner — Collaborates with the Wayne County Fair to offer vendor spaces for businesses, groups, or organizations.
  • Wayne County Fair Partner — Union Agricultural Society At Palmyra partners with the Wayne County Fair to organize and operate the annual event.
  • Wayne County Fair Board of Directors Partner — Recognized Jim McGinnis as the 2026 Parade Marshal in acknowledgment of his community service.
  • local Fire Departments Partner — Provides support services during the annual fair.
  • local and state law enforcement Partner — Provides support services during the annual fair.
strategies · 2

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Community-Based Educational Platform
    methodology: community-fair-as-educational-platform
    By using the annual fair as a public-facing educational platform, we advance agricultural and mechanical learning because large-scale, tradition-rooted events create accessible, experiential learning opportunities that engage youth and families outside formal classrooms.
  • Youth Leadership Through Competitive Engagement
    methodology: youth-leadership-through-competition
    By integrating competitive events and community-involved activities into agricultural education, we develop youth leadership skills because structured competition fosters responsibility, skill mastery, and community accountability.