Jun 30, 2020Empire Farm Days organizers forced to cancel event
Organizers of the annual Empire Farms Days agricultural show and event in Western New York have been forced to cancel this year’s event due to COVID-19 concerns.
The event had been scheduled to take place at Rodman Lott Farm in Seneca Falls, New York, July 29-31. The cancellation stems from county administrators denying permit applications, according to a statement on the event website.
“We are beyond upset with the decision of the Seneca County Board of Supervisors to not allow Empire Farm Days to take place at the Rodman Lott Farm on State Route 414, Seneca Falls, NY,” the statement reads. “They cited the fact that there was not enough time for the various agencies to review the permits we applied for even though we are still over 30 days out from the show dates. But in their defense, the directives from Governor Cuomo tied their hands through lack of any clear guidance for an event like this. Our attendees are from the rural areas of New York State that have had the least incidences of this virus and our exhibitors are the essential businesses that have been open throughout this whole time period. What possible harm could come to the people of Seneca County except to have hotels and restaurants as busy as possible.”
The full statement can be found here. The next Empire Farm Days is now scheduled for Aug. 3-5, 2021.
Empire Farm Days began in 1930 as Potato Field Days. It has been held annually since, with the exception of 1942-45 due to World War II.
