Hundreds of Baby Goats Removed on Day 1 at the New York State Fair

Baaaaad Start to Great New York State Fair

The New York State Fair, also known as the Great New York State Fair, kicked off its annual 13-day showcase of agriculture, food, exhibits, and concerts on Wednesday but did so without a hundred or so goats despite the long lines of people who were waiting to "snuggle" with them.

Wednesday was day one of the Great New York State Fair in Syracuse. According to sources, while long lines of excited fair-goers formed to snuggle with baby goats, hundreds of the cuddly babies were being carried out of the exhibit inside the Horticulture Building.

Vet Says One of the Goats "Not Well"

With midway rides, concessionaires, exhibits, and concerts, the Great New York State Fair is one of the oldest and largest state fairs in the United States, with over one million visitors annually. Still, hundreds were disappointed on Wednesday when they couldn't participate in the popular snuggle fest after a veterinarian observed that one of the goats was ill.

Sources say that a spokesperson for the State Fair confirmed that the exhibit was “temporarily shut down out of an abundance of caution” after one goat was observed to have “symptoms of illness.” The spokesperson said that an illness was not yet diagnosed or confirmed positive.

Was Anyone Exposed to the Ill Animal?

To prevent the spread of illness among the animals, veterinarians from the State Department of Agriculture and Markets are often brought in to check on them. A fair spokesperson told sources that "no fairgoer was allowed to interact with the goats because the veterinarian visit happened before the Fair opened."

As of today, there's been no update on whether the exhibit will be allowed to open.