SYRACUSE — The annual Great New York State Fair in Syracuse kicks off today and runs through Sept. 1, with an Agriculture Career Day scheduled for Thursday.

The Career Day is slated to start at 10 a.m. on Thursday, the State Agriculture, State Department of Labor, New York Agriculture in the Classroom, Future Farmers of America, SUNY Morrisville, SUNY Cobleskill, and others in front of Gate 2, near the administration building at the corner of Tonawanda Street and Hiawatha Avenue.

Agriculture Career Day aims to get young people excited about the diverse possibilities for future jobs in the agricultural industry, according to event organizers. The Career Challenge, an educational scavenger hunt with interactive exhibits, will help young fairgoers learn about a wide variety of career options and connect directly with industry and education representatives just like them, with a chance to win prizes.

“Young people are the future of our industry and it is more important now than ever before to get them excited about all the incredible opportunities for successful, meaningful careers in the agricultural field,” State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said in a press release.

“Agriculture Career Day at The Great New York State Fair is a unique opportunity to inspire and engage the next generation of leaders of New York’s agricultural industry. Through interactive exhibits, young New Yorkers can learn about the range of incredible careers available in this critical field,” state Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said in the release

As part of Agriculture Career Day, event participants are invited to enjoy the Career Challenge and enter to win one of two Nintendo Switches. The Career Challenge is a scavenger hunt around the Fairgrounds, where participants visit nine stations featuring hands-on activities that tie in with an agriculture career path to learn more about the various agriculture-related careers available to young people today and in the future. Young people interested in participating in the Agriculture Career Day events should register at the Gate 2 registration tent beginning at 10 a.m. and move through the Fairgrounds to various stops of the Career Challenge.

At each station, hosts from New York Agriculture in the Classroom, FFA, SUNY Morrisville, SUNY Cobleskill, and more will talk about the career opportunities food and agriculture as participants complete an interactive task. Stops this year will help participants learn about career pathways in dairy food processing, plant and animal science, natural resources conservation, environmental engineering, and agriculture technology.

Participants who complete six out of the nine stops and turn their cards in to the Agriculture Career Day tent at the main gate by 2:15 p.m will be entered in a drawing to win one of two Nintendo Switches at 2:30 p.m.

“Agriculture Career Day at the New York State Fair is a powerful opportunity to spark curiosity and inspire students about the vast world of food and agriculture, Katie Carpenter, New York Agriculture in the Classroom director said in the release. “Surrounded by real-life examples of New York’s agricultural diversity, students can engage in meaningful conversations that connect what they see to future careers, higher education pathways, and their own potential to shape the future of food.”

For more information on the state fair, its attractions, concerts and schedule, visit https://nysfair.ny.gov/.