NORWICH - Chenango County Dairy Day invites all to the celebration on Saturday, June 21, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the fairgrounds located at 168 East Main Street, with entry from Maydole Street or Grove Avenue.

One of the original Dairy Day Committee members, Karen Hoffman, said the committee has been working around the clock to bring new elements to the event.

“We try to have something different every year and bring in new elements,” said Hoffman. “This year we’re going to dish up and serve ice cream from a giant nine-gallon ice cream sundae.”

She said the large sundae will be created inside a kiddie pool in the 4-H building.

Hoffman said they will also have the hay bale maze, an antique tractor display, coordinated with the car museum for Dairy Day and to be shown Sunday at the museum. There will also be a farm petting zoo with ducks, chickens, goats, and more, a kiddie tractor pull, face painting, and a maple syrup producer.

She mentioned past years included horse-drawn wagon hayrides, tractor-drawn wagon rides, local musicians, Ross Park Zoo animal exhibits, a raptor show, Dan the Snake Man, and more.

“This year the Norwich City Band will be playing for about an hour or so,” Hoffman said.

Contests will include a hay bale toss for length and height, farm Olympics, an egg roll for children, and a judged coloring contest.

The Grange will be serving food - hamburgers, hot dogs, and chili - and Chobani will provide yogurt.

She noted the Health Department will be on hand to provide immunizations.

Hoffman splits her time between working full time for the USDA as a state grazing specialist, maintaining her farm’s small flock of sheep and beef cattle, and creating the hay bale maze for Dairy Day.

She said her favorite part of Dairy Day is simply watching the kids and families have fun together.

Hoffman mentioned they’re always looking for committee members and thanked those involved over the years, including Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE), which is still a strong supporter of Dairy Day; Kristi Gorrell; Rich Taber; CCE Director Keith Severson; CCE 4-H and ag agents Carrie Edsall and Holly Pullis; the Holstein Club; and many more.

A huge thank-you goes to Dairy Day sponsors: Farmer’s Place LLC, Husted Trucking, Lathrop Meadows Farm, Chenango Steel Sales Inc., Chenango Therapeutics, New York Pizzeria, Lutz Feed Company Inc., Preferred Mutual, Bartles Pharmacy, Curtis L. Bailey, Matthews Auto, Coventry Transport, and NBT.