State Fair stuff A victorious man carries his large prize through the Midway at the 2023 New York State Fair. Scott Schild, sschild@syracuse.com (Scott Schild/Scott Schild | sschild@syracuse.)

It is really hard to leave the New York State Fair empty handed.

There is so much to buy!

And we are not just talking about food to munch on during the way home.

We are talking about stuff.

The State Fair is immense – and everywhere you turn there is something to purchase or promotional items being tossed at you.

State Fair stuff Heather Chew wrestles with a giant bear she won at the 1982 New York State Fair. (Dick Blume/Dick Blume)

Vendors sell all sorts of things, and the Center of Progress Building is filled with things you never knew existed.

And then there are those Midway games which offer prizes for winning, including stuffed animals that sometimes are bigger than a small child.

Do we really need any of it? Probably not.

But part of the thrill of the Fair is walking away with a souvenir from that day at the Fairgrounds.

State Fair stuff Annette Avery, left, and Sarah Cortright, (right) go hat shopping at Andy’s Place, a hat booth at the New York State Fair. Photo was taken in 1999. (Lisa Carp / The Post-Standard/Lisa Carp)

We bet that some of you have such a piece of State Fair memorabilia kicking around the house.

Did you wreck your shoulder winning a prize? Do you have an old cup, shirt or bauble that you have hung onto for years? Maybe an old Center of Progress Building kitchen utensil or steam mop that you still use. How about a goldfish that has beaten the odds and is still alive?

Are there any old State Fair related family heirlooms out there?

We want to hear about them. The older or weirder the better.

Send an email to jcroyle@syracuse.com with a short write up and a photo. A reporter will be in touch for a short interview.

Articles will run during the New York State Fair, which runs from August 26 to September 7.

State Fair stuff Lois Ross runs the “New Dimensions” booth, which has Syracuse memorabilia in the Center of Progress Building at the New York State Fair in 1987. (Dick Blume/Dick Blume) State Fair stuff Barbara Eroh, a demonstrator with Combi Chef shows off her slicer and chopper during the 1989 New York State Fair at the Center of Progress Building. (Ellen M./Ellen M. Blalock)