named programs · 5 · from sources
What they call their work
Senior Citizen Days
Program offering free admission to seniors (62+) on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10 AM to 4 PM during the fair.
Sensory Safe Space
Dedicated quiet room with noise-canceling headphones, bubble tubes, and AAC charging stations for individuals with autism or sensory sensitivities during the fair.
Tractor and Truck Pull Events
Annual competition featuring garden tractors and modified trucks, drawing participants from local and national circuits.
Ulster County Fair
Annual week-long event featuring agricultural exhibits, livestock displays, horse shows, and educational activities promoting farming and rural life in Ulster County.
Ulster County and Chernivtsi, Ukraine Sister-Communities Weaving Project
Cultural exchange and hands-on workshop connecting Ulster County fiber artists with weavers in Chernivtsi, Ukraine, to share traditional taystra bag weaving techniques.
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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County and Regional Agricultural Fair Management 2 activities
- Hosts agricultural and competitive events at the fairRuns a variety of agricultural competitions and demonstrations including a garden tractor pull for participants aged 5 to 95, Flax Spinning Competition, Fleece to Shawl Competition, and live animal care education such as angora rabbit shearing. These events emphasize hands-on participation and skill demonstration across age groups.
- Organizes and operates the annual Ulster County FairPlans, manages, and hosts the Ulster County Fair as its largest annual event, featuring agricultural displays, live farm animals, midway rides, entertainment, and educational programming. The fair includes structured daily events, admission promotions, and accessibility initiatives.
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Equitable Access Admission Programs 1 activity
- Implements fair admission and pricing programsOffers tiered pricing options including discounted and free admission for children under 10, seniors aged 62+, and designated discount days. Provides online presale promotions such as buy-one-get-one-free tickets and variable-priced unlimited ride wristbands ranging from $17.76 to $30 based on day and purchase method.
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Community Art Education Workshops 1 activity
- Offers fiber arts and traditional crafts programmingHosts hands-on workshops in wool spinning, carding, weaving, natural dyeing, and flax processing. Includes special events like Flax Day and international collaborations such as a live Zoom exchange with the School of Bukovinian Taystra Weaving in Ukraine to teach traditional taystra bag weaving.
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Free Outdoor Music Concerts 1 activity
- Provides live entertainment and performances during the fairFeatures headline concerts, tribute bands, acrobatic water shows, disc dog performances, pig races, chainsaw carving demonstrations, and roving performers. Scheduled acts include professional musicians such as Exile, Chubby Checker, and Thunderstruck, with performances integrated into fair admission.
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Sensory-Inclusive Programming and Support 1 activity
- Provides sensory-inclusive accommodations at the fairOffers sensory safe hours with modified ride environments and operates a Sensory Safe Space open daily from 10am to 10pm, equipped with bubble tubes, noise-canceling headphones, tactile books, mats, seating, and charging stations for AAC devices to support attendees with sensory sensitivities.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Operates midway rides and ticketing systemManages access to midway rides through both unlimited ride wristbands and individual ticket purchases. Sells ride tickets in bulk (20 for $30, 50 for $60 with bonus ride) and operates rides requiring 3–5 tickets each, alongside all-inclusive wristband options valid for multiple days.
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financials · form 990 · fy2023
revenue
Total revenue$1.07M
Contributions & grants$118K11%
Program service revenue$875K82%
Investment income$4720%
Other revenue$79K
expenses
Total expenses$1.04M
Program expenses92%
Admin / overhead8%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$178K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineOther
balance sheet
Total assets$1.80M
Cash$661K
Investments$0
Liabilities$12K
Net assets$1.79M
Liquid reserves7.6 mo
5 years on record · 2019–2023 · YoY revenue -17.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2023
Who runs it
board members · 21
- DARA KOPASKIE — PRESIDENT
- DON MARKLE — BOARD MEMBER
- ERNIE FABIANO — BOARD MEMBER
- FRANK CUFF — BOARD MEMBER
- GRANT DEWITT — BOARD MEMBER
- HUNTER CALYER — BOARD MEMBER
- JAIME CHURCHILL — BOARD MEMBER
- JENNY BURKINS — BOARD MEMBER
- JENNY LANG — BOARD MEMBER
- JOE LEICHING — BOARD MEMBER
- JOHN CAPEN — BOARD MEMBER
- JOHN FITZPATRICK — BOARD MEMBER
- JOHN INGRAM — BOARD MEMBER
- JOSH WOOLHEATER — BOARD MEMBER
- LYDIA REIDY — BOARD MEMBER
- RAY MAYONE — BOARD MEMBER
- RUSSELL HAUSMANN — TREASURER
- SETH WARREN — VICE PRESIDENT
- THOMAS HAUSMANN — BOARD MEMBER
- TRISH PIPITONE — SECRETARY
- VINCENT WOOLSEY — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 16
Who they work with
- American Fireworks Partner — Provides fireworks displays for the Ulster County Fair, maintaining a long-standing tradition of pyrotechnic excellence.
- CCE of U.C. Master Gardeners Partner — Collaborates on horticulture and vegetable departments at the Ulster County Fair.
- Clayton’s Military Band Partner — Marched in the Ulster County Fair parade in 1909.
- Dreamland Amusements Partner — Contracts with Dreamland Amusements to operate rides and set ride pricing at the Ulster County Fair.
- Dreamland Amusements Partner — Manages ride pricing and operations for the Ulster County Fair midway.
- Dreamland Amusements Partner — Partner vendor responsible for operating rides and selling ride tickets and wristbands during the fair.
- Resource Center for Accessible Living Partner — Contributed to the creation of the Sensory Safe Space at the Ulster County Fair.
- Rondout Valley Central School District Partner — Contributed to the creation of the Sensory Safe Space at the Ulster County Fair.
- Saugerties Central School District Partner — Contributed to the creation of the Sensory Safe Space at the Ulster County Fair.
- School of Bukovinian Taystra Weaving Partner — Collaborates on the Ulster County and Chernivtsi, Ukraine Sister-Communities Weaving Project, including a live Zoom exchange and joint weaving workshop.
- Ulster BOCES Partner — Contributed to the creation of the Sensory Safe Space at the Ulster County Fair.
- Ulster County Government — Collaborates with various agencies of Ulster County to promote agricultural education and public understanding.
- Ulster County Area Transit (UCAT) Partner — Provides public bus transportation services to the fair, with a dedicated schedule for fairgoers.
- Ulster County Fair Network — Primary event organized and operated by Ulster County Agricultural Society, Inc.
- Ulster County Fair Network — ULSTER COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY INC operates the Ulster County Fair as part of its programming.
- Yama-no-Uchi (Yama Farms) Partner — Participated in the 1910 Ulster County Fair by entering an automobile float that won a blue ribbon.
strategies · 3
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 Event-Based Agricultural Educationmethodology: community-event-based-educationBy leveraging the annual county fair as a recurring community event, the organization promotes public engagement in agriculture, horticulture, and animal husbandry because experiential, place-based learning in a festive context increases accessibility and retention of agricultural knowledge.
- Family-Centered, Multi-Generational Engagement Modelmethodology: family-centered entertainment programmingBy offering tradition-based entertainment, integrated performances, and family-friendly programming, the organization sustains broad community attendance because shared experiences across age groups strengthen intergenerational connection and long-term engagement with the fair.
- Sensory-Inclusive Event Designmethodology: sensory-inclusive designBy modifying ride environments (e.g., operating without lights or music) and creating low-stimulus spaces, the organization increases access and participation for individuals with sensory sensitivities because reducing overwhelming stimuli fosters inclusion and family attendance.