WALTON - Delaware Valley Agricultural Society President Ed Rossley, on Aug. 18, reported that in compliance with New York State Ag & Markets law, that the Delaware County Fair is not allowing the sale of Confederate flags at the fair.
Activist group Fair For All issued a press release on Aug. 18 claiming victory for the decision, following their seven-year battle to have the Confederate flag and merchandise containing the image prohibited on fair grounds.
Fair for All organizers canvassed the fair grounds and found no Confederate flag merchandise for sale this year – a dramatic change from years past, the press release said.
In 2021, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Delaware County joined the Fair for All effort urging the fair board to ban hate merchandise, the press release continued.
A law was signed by Governor Andrew Cuomo on Jan. 28, 2021 to “limit the display of the Confederate flag, as well as other symbols of hate, on or within the grounds of public property.”
When pressed if fair vendors were permitted to sell merchandise depicting the Confederate flag, Rossley replied, “We are complying with the law.”
County fairs should be about livestock shows, carnival rides, free bikes, and fried foods, Fair for All organizer Krisy Gashler said. “Racist, violent symbols like the Confederate and Nazi flag have no place outside museums and history books - and certainly not at family-friendly events like county fairs. We are overjoyed that New York state’s county fairs are finally welcoming, safe, and fair for all.”
The fair board did not “ban” the Confederate flag, Rossley said, it is complying with New York State Ag & Market rules, which govern fairs.
