Cuomo appoints Waffner permanent director of the New York State Fair

GEDDES, N.Y. — Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday announced the appointment of Troy Waffner as the permanent director of the New York State Fair within the Department of Agriculture and Markets, “effective immediately.”

Waffner has served as acting director for the past five state fairs, a time of change and growth at the annual event and its State Fairgrounds.

“We have made unprecedented investments in this great institution and Troy has played a major role in the Fair’s record-breaking successes over the last few years, as well as the Fairground’s transformation into a year-round economic engine for Central New York,” Cuomo contended in a news release. “I am pleased to appoint him as the Fair’s permanent leader and together, we will continue to build an organization that makes a major contribution to the region’s economy and beyond.”

The most recent State Fair, which ended Monday, set a new attendance record of 1,279,010 for a 13-day event that included eight new daily attendance records.

“I am honored to continue my service to this great organization and its talented people and thank Gov. Cuomo for his faith in me and our team. We will work diligently to meet the governor’s vision of a Fair and Fairgrounds that promotes the best of New York agriculture, provides great entertainment for the people of New York, and becomes a major provider of economic benefits for the people of Central and Upstate New York,” Waffner said in the release.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com