Dutchess County Agricultural Society Inc

What it reported doing in 2024

Mission/vision: our vision is a society actively engaged in the pursuit and promotion of our rural and agricultural heritage, from neighborhood backyards to family farms and commercial enterprises. Our mission is the promotion of agriculture, horticulture, mechanical and domestic arts, fine arts, and allied sciences through education, instruction, display, and competition.the sheep and wool family festival is a showcase of the northeast's thriving sheep industry, and it's a famous fiber festival that draws 30,000 visitors from across the country. Not only are there sheep, llamas, alpacas, and their luscious fibers. There are 300 fiber artists and crafts galore, amazing sheep herding demonstrations and sheepdog trials, a petting zoo, and other children's activities.various livestock shows such as the progressive goat show, the summer classic livestock show, the eastern ny jr. Holstein show, the youth goat show, and wool spin in, serve to educate the public on the importance of agriculture in our lives. The dutchess county agricultural society's flagship event is the annual dutchess county fair. The fair is an opportunity for our farmers to showcase the very best of their livestock, and the best their fields and farms can produce. Over 1,000 individual exhibitors prepare everything from cows, horses, pigs, chickens, sheep, goats, and alpacas to jams, jellies, quilts, and fine arts for the fair. They provide us the essence of what an authentic county fair is all about and they give our fairgoers an appreciation for agriculture and education as to where the food we eat comes from. There is no better place to showcase agriculture than at a county fair. Agricultural and educational components of the fair include: livestock hill-12 acres of the fairgrounds dedicated to showcasing the finest in local livestock, show arenas for judging, and milk demonstrations and sheep shearing.salute to agriculture tent includes the dairy birthing center allowing fairgoers to witness the live birth of a calf and displays of award-winning agricultural crops and produce. Agriventure kids activity area - presents a mock farm, letting 3 to 10 year-olds see how food is grown and sold. The kids can dig up potatoes from a sandbox, shear a wooden (and woolen) sheep, pick apples from a plywood tree, and milk "dutchess" the cow. They will take their crop to a "warehouse" where they will sell it for funny money. That money will buy them a half-pint of milk or a bag of carrot sticks, showing them that food doesn't "just appear on grocery shelves".2 horse show rings - featuring equestrian events and farrier competition.century museum village-turn-of-the-century displays featuring "story tellers" in costume will take you back to a quieter, simpler time. Stroll past a printer's shop complete with a working 1900 printing press, marvel at a living room filled with victorian furniture, view a rural kitchen and watch as repairs are done in a model-t-era auto shop.working blacksmith shop & gas powered engine show - witness how work was done and things were made long before the robots were introduced to the workplace. Bentley one-room schoolhouse - an authentic one-room schoolhouse which had been moved to the fairgrounds, is filled with memorabilia that reflects educational practices and schoolhouse activities in an era long past. Pleasant valley historic train station - relocated and restored, the historic pleasant valley train station allows the community the opportunity to view and learn about the industrial era; an integral part of the hudson valley's historic story.judging pavilion from Washington hollow - the victorian judge's stand came from the old dutchess county fairgrounds Washington hollow location.working sugar house and cider mill - learn how maple syrup is made with sap gathered from the 100 maple trees that grace the fairgrounds.antique firehouse museum - the firefighter's museum is designed to resemble a historic firehouse where both permanent and rotati

Financial Efficiency

• Mission deployment rate: 76.1%; rating input score 76
• Program expense ratio: 89.9%; rating input score 90
• Fundraising efficiency: Limited

Transparency & Controls

• Consistency checks: 86.7%; rating input score 87; 2nd percentile among comparable filings
• Pay-setting controls: 3 of 6 controls in place; rating input score 50
  • Compensation committee: Pass
  • Independent consultant: Missing
  • Other Form 990s reviewed: Missing
  • Written employment contract: Missing
  • Compensation survey or study: Pass
  • Board or committee approval: Pass
• Foreign activity oversight: Limited
• Grant itemization coverage: 61.1%; rating input score 61; 17th percentile among comparable filings
• Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
• Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

• Independent voting board: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd percentile among comparable filings
• Governance controls: 9 of 9 controls in place; rating input score 100
  • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
  • Whistleblower policy: Pass
  • Document-retention policy: Pass
  • CEO compensation review process: Pass
  • Other executive compensation review process: Pass
  • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
  • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
  • Audit committee oversight: Pass
  • Independent financial-statement audit: Pass

Sustainability

• Operating margin: 14.5%; rating input score 70; 70th percentile among comparable filings
• Total-asset coverage ratio: 2.42; rating input score 68; 68th percentile among comparable filings
• Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.01; rating input score 85; 85th percentile among comparable filings
• Officer compensation ratio: 8.4%; rating input score 35; 35th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

• Program expense growth: 2.5% per year; rating input score 100; 25th percentile among comparable filings
• Revenue growth: 2.2% per year; rating input score 100; 22nd percentile among comparable filings
• Asset growth: 4.2% per year; rating input score 100; 30th percentile among comparable filings