Main Street News

The Pine Plains FFA Ag Fair returns to Stissing Mountain Jr./Sr. High School on Friday, October 6th and Saturday, October 7th.

As someone who graduated from Pine Plains, I can say that without a doubt, Ag Day is the best when you’re still a student. The day begins with waking up early to get decked out in your class color and, if you’re a senior, show up to school extra early to have a breakfast cook out in the parking lot.

Following the early morning meeting with your class, you head out to the football field to compete against the other classes and even teachers and coaches in relays such as the three-legged race, baseball bat spin, and sack hop, among many other silly activities.

After the relays, you break to participate in various activities including volleyball, basketball, kickball, family feud, and pictionary, just to name a few. In between these activities, you get to sit down and eat lunch with your team.

Following lunch, you head back out into the bleachers to watch and participate in the parade of colors, during which each class performs a brief skit they rehearsed or a dance. At the end of the day, the class with the most combined points in the relays, activities, and the parade wins Ag Day.

Also on Ag Day itself, elementary students are able to visit the high school and look at the animals in the barns as well as view their “crazy creatures” exhibits in the gymnasium. Crazy creatures are animals or critters made with fruits and vegetables and typically held together with toothpicks. Students can only use “all-natural materials” in their creature designs and the best ones win ribbons.

For those of you who are no longer students (like myself), there are still plenty of reasons to attend the Ag Fair.

Friday

The lineup for events on Friday includes section judging of rabbits, poultry, and beef starting at 9 a.m, Livestock Conformation Classes at 11 a.m.; the FFA Dairy Show at 11:30 a.m.; the Pine Plains Garden Club Flower Show and other indoor exhibits open at 12 p.m.; and the tractor pull begins at 3:30 p.m.

Also on Friday, the FFA hosts the annual roast beef dinner, beginning at 5 p.m. It’s $20 at the door for adults and $10 for kids. All funds benefit the Stissing Mountain chapter of the FFA.

Saturday

On Saturday, the day begins with the Pine Plains Garden Club Flower Show Car Meet, which takes place all day long from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and the annual parade at 9 a.m. Also at 9 a.m. the Antique Tractor Pulling Contest begins. At 10 a.m. the horse showmanship begins and the FFA food booths open.

For those of you who are excited about the annual pulled pork parfaits, I’m happy to report that the class of 2028 will be carrying on the tradition and offering them from the time the food booths open to when they sell out! For those of you who don’t know what a pulled pork parfait is, the make up is as follows: pulled pork on the bottom of the cup, layered with coleslaw, brisket, mashed potatoes, and topped with a cherry tomato.

At 11 a.m. all exhibits are open to the public and the Pine Plains Championship Horse Pull begins. Like the day prior, the Dairy Show begins at 11:30 a.m. The Pet Show begins at 2 p.m. with a cow pie raffle. Later on at dusk, fireworks will be sponsored by the Pine Plains Recreation and will be visible from the school parking lot.

There are also a variety of other exhibits and activities that will occur throughout the day that are not listed here. Admission to the fair and parking are both free. So if you’re a Pine Plains graduate (or not) go visit the Ag Fair and take a walk down memory lane or experience it for the first time!