The New York Animal Agriculture Coalition, which organizes the Dairy Cow Birthing Center at the New York State Fair, has said the exhibit will be “taking a pause” this year.  

“After thoughtful discussions with the Fair staff, we decided to pause the Dairy Cow Birthing Center in 2026. This collaborative decision reflects our shared commitment to addressing current challenges on both sides while embracing the opportunity to reimagine the ways in which we connect fairgoers with New York’s dairy community,” NYAAC shared in a statement on Facebook.

The Dairy Cow Birthing Center was established in 2013 allowing fairgoers to learn about the birthing process on dairy farms. Over 400 calves have been born at the fairgrounds as part of the exhibit. Each year, NYAAC invites six host farms to bring six cows to give birth at the State Fair.

Dairy farmer, Joel Riehlman, talks with fairgoers during the 2024 State Fair in the Dairy Cow Birthing Center. (Emily Kenny/Spectrum News 1)

In 2025, director of NYAAC Eileen Jensen said the birthing center was designed to educate people about the daily work of dairy farmers.  

“We continue to change minds, change perspectives and influence people and help them understand that farmers are great people. They care about their employees, they care about the land they live on, the water they use, and they care about the cows that they’re raising,” Jensen said during the fair last year.  

Farmers are particular about the cows they bring to the fair in order to prevent stress on the animals. Additionally, they have been required to participate in extensive evaluations and testing by veterinarians to prevent any diseases transferring from one farm to another.  

NYAAC said that they will still have their Mobile Dairy Experience at the fair as another way for fairgoers to learn about New York’s largest agriculture industry. New in 2024, the Mobile Dairy experience is an immersive 1,000-square-foot truck that demonstrates how milk gets from the farm to the fridge. 

The New York State Fair and the Department of Agriculture and Markets did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the Dairy Cow Birthing Center.