[ THEME MUSIC ] >> WELCOME TO THIS WEEK'S EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW."

I'M SHANTEL DESTRA.

FOR THE PAST FEW WEEKS, ALL EYES HAVE REMAINED ON NEW YORK CITY FOR WHAT HAS TURNED OUT TO BE A VERY EVENTFUL RACE FOR THE CITY'S NEXT MAYOR.

THE CURRENT EMBATTLED MAYOR, ERIC ADAMS, HAS HAD AN UPHILL BATTLE FOR RE-ELECTION WITH THE STING OF CONTROVERSY, ALLEGED CORRUPTION AND COMPROMISED ALLIES ON HIS RECORD.

THIS WEEK, SEVERAL NEWS OUTLETS HAVE REPORTED THAT THE MAYOR HAS BEEN OFFERED A POTENTIAL POSITION TO WORK AT HUD UNDER THE CURRENT TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

THE MAYOR'S CAMPAIGN HAS DENIED THOSE REPORTS AND ADAMS IS VOWING TO STAY IN THE RACE ON AN INDEPENDENT TICKET.

MEANWHILE, THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE, ASSEMBLY MEMBER, ZOHRAN MAMDANI, SECURED THE PRIMARY VICTORY OVER FORMER GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO BACK IN JUNE AFTER RUNNING A VERY SUCCESSFUL GRASS ROOTS CAMPAIGN.

SINCE THEN, MAMDANI HAS REMAINED WELL POSITIONED LEADING UP TO THE GENERAL ELECTION OVER CUOMO, ADAMS AND REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE CURTIS SLIWA.

TO UNDERSTAND THE LATEST UPDATES IN THE MAYORAL RACE AND THE CAMPAIGNS OF THE CANDIDATES, WE ARE JOINED BY JIMMY VIELKIND KIND OF WNYC AND THE NEW YORK PUBLIC NEWS NETWORK.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US HERE TODAY, JIMMY.

>> HAPPY TO BE HERE.

>> NOW, CAN YOU GIVE US SORT OF THE LAY OF THE LAND FOR THE RACE FOR NEW YORK CITY'S NEXT MAYOR?

>> YEAH.

IT SEEMS THAT THE PLOT IS THICKENING AS THE FIELD STARTS THINNING.

THE FRONTRUNNER IN THE RACE RIGHT NOW IS ZOHRAN MAMDANI.

HE'S ASSEMBLY FROM QUEENS AND HE WON THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY IN JUNE.

NEW YORK CITY IS A DEMOCRATIC CITY.

THERE'S A BIG ENROLLMENT ADVANTAGE FOR THAT CITY SO MAMDANI REALLY IS IN THE FRONTRUNNER POSITION.

BUT AT THE SAME FORCES THAT PROPELLED HIM THERE, HE HAS CAPTURED YOUTH.

HE HAS ENERGIZED NEW VOTERS.

HE HAS WON THE SUPPORT OF THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS OF AMERICA, HAS LED TO A REAL BACKLASH.

THERE'S AN ALMOST EQUAL PART OF THE ELECTORATE THAT HAS CONCERNS THAT MAMDANI IS TOO YOUNG, TOO INEXPERIENCED AND FRANKLY, TOO FAR TO THE LEFT TO GOVERN A CITY AS BIG AND COMPLICATED AS NEW YORK.

AS WE MOVED INTO THE GENERAL ELECTION PHASE, WE SEE THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL CANDIDATES WHO ARE TRYING TO CHALLENGE HIM, NOTABLY INCUMBENT MAYOR ERIC ADAMS WHO SKIPPED THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY AND IS RUNNING ON A THIRD-PARTY LINE AND ANDREW CUOMO, THE FORMER GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK WHO LOST IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY AND IS ALSO ON THE THIRD-PARTY LINE.

THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE IS CURTIS SLIWA.

HE WAS THE CANDIDATE IN 2021.

HE'S SORT OF A FIXTURE IN NEW YORK CITY, AND THE FIELD GOT A LITTLE SMALLER OVER THE LAST WEEK WHEN JIM WALDEN, AN ATTORNEY WHO WAS ALSO MOUNTING A THIRD-PARTY CHALLENGE DROPPED OUT.

>> YEAH.

I WANT TO GET INTO MANY SOME OF THE LATEST NEWS OF THE WEEK, BOTH POLITICAL AND THE "NEW YORK TIMES" HAVE REPORTED THAT THE INCUMBENT MAYOR ERIC ADAMS HAS BEEN REPORTEDLY OFFERED A POSITION WITH HUD TO WORK UNDER THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AND IF HE WERE TO ACCEPT THIS POSITION THAT WOULD MEAN THE END OF HIS RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN.

THE MAYOR HAS COME OUT AND DENIED THAT REPORTING AND HAS VOWED TO STAY IN THE RACE.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THESE DEVELOPMENTS AND THAT RESPONSE FROM THE MAYOR?

>> I THINK IT'S JUST A REMINDER THAT THERE'S ONE GIANT WILDCARD IN THIS ELECTION AND KIND OF IN LIFE AND THAT'S DONALD TRUMP.

TRUMP IS NOW A FLORIDA VOTER BUT HE WAS BORN AND RAISED IN NEW YORK.

HE HAS MAJOR BUSINESS INTERESTS IN NEW YORK, AND PEOPLE CLOSE TO HIM SAY THAT HE CARES DEEPLY ABOUT THE RACE FOR NEW YORK CITY MAYOR.

HE HAS EXPRESSED DISPLEASURE WITH ZOHRAN MAMDANI AND SAID HE DOESN'T WANT HIM TO TAKE OVER THE CITY.

SO WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS TRUMP REALLY TRYING TO MATCHENNATE TO NARROW DOWN THE FIELD.

POLLING SHOWS THAT MAMDANI IS IN THE LEAD RIGHT NOW WITH A MULTICANDIDATE FIELD, BUT IF IT WERE TO BECOME A ONE-ON-ONE RACE AGAINST ERIC ADAMS OR AGAINST ANDREW CUOMO, THINGS WOULD GET A LOT TIGHTER AND A LOT MORE INTERESTING GOING INTO NOVEMBER.

SO AS YOU SAID, ADAMS HAS DENIED THE HUD REPORT BUT HE DIDN'T SAY THAT-- HE WAS A LITTLE BIT MORE HEDGY, WHEN HE TALKED ABOUT, WELL, WOULD THERE BE ANY POSITION THAT YOU COULD GET OUT OF.

THERE'S BEEN SOME MORE REPORTING THAT ADAMS HAS BEEN THINKING ABOUT WHAT HE MIGHT DO NEXT.

WHETHER OR NOT HE COULD TAKE A JOB.

HE'S GOING TO NEED A NEW JOB IN JANUARY IF HE DOESN'T WIN ANOTHER TERM AS MAYOR AND RIGHT NOW, POLLS INDICATE HE'S NOT IN VERY STRONG POSITION.

AT THE SAME TIME, WE ZOHRAN MAMDANI REALLY SCREAMING FROM THE ROOFTOP ABOUT THIS STUFF.

HE SAYS THAT THIS SHOWS THAT ANDREW CUOMO IS DONALD TRUMP'S PREFERRED CANDIDATE.

YOU KNOW, AND AGAIN, IN A DEMOCRATIC PLACE LIKE NEW YORK CITY THAT IS A PRETTY POTENT LINE OF ATTACK, SO CUOMO HAS NOT SAID MUCH ABOUT THIS AT ALL.

HE SAYS ALL THESE CONVERSATIONS ARE NOTHING THAT HE KNOWS ABOUT, BUT YOU KNOWS WE'LL HAVE TO SEE EXACTLY HOW THIS PLAYS OUT.

>> YEAH.

IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THAT AT ONE POINT BOTH CUOMO AND ADAMS WERE CALLING ON ONE ANOTHER TO DROP OUT OF THE RACE.

DO YOU SEE THAT HAPPENING AT THIS TIME?

>> NO.

I THINK WE'RE WELL BEYOND THAT.

IT'S SORT OF A WEIRD STANDOFF.

ALMOST LIKE THAT PEOPLE WHERE THE SPIDERMANS ARE POINTING AT EACH OTHER.

BUT AGAIN, DONALD TRUMP COULD MAKE THIS RATHER INTERESTING IF HE IS ABLE TO INFLUENCE AND PERHAPS CREATE A POSITION FOR SLIWA, CREATE A POSITION FOR ADAMS OR DO SOMETHING ELSE TO GET THIS INTO A ONE-ON-ONE RACE.

SOMETHING THAT AT THE WHITE HOUSE THIS WEEK HE SAID HE WAS HOPEFUL FOR.

>> RIGHT.

AND YOU, OF COURSE, HAVE BEEN DOING SOME INCREDIBLE REPORTING ON THE PRECARIOUS POSITION THAT SOME DEMOCRATS ARE IN IN TERMS OF DECIDING WHETHER OR NOT TO ENDORSE THE ASSEMBLY MEMBER.

SO CAN YOU HELP US UNPACK THAT?

>> SURE.

SO WHEN MAMDANI WON THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY, HE DID SO WITH A SURGE OF PROGRESSIVE ENERGY AND MAYBE THE ESTABLISHED PARTY FIGURES, PEOPLE LIKE SENATE MINORITY LEADER CHUCK SCHUMER, HOUSE DEMOCRATIC LEADER HAKEEM JEFFRIES, BOTH ARE REPRESENTATIVES IN BROOKLYN.

AS WELL AS GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL HAVE NOT ENDORSED MAMDANI AND HAVE STILL NOT GIVEN THEIR BLESSING TO HIM.

NOW HE IS THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY WINNER.

SO THESE TOP DEMOCRATS, IT'S A LITTLE BIT ODD.

YOU BUT IT IS SOMETHING OF A DELICATE DANCE BECAUSE ALL THOSE OFFICIALS TEND TO BE MUCH MORE CENTRISTS IN THEIR POLITICS AND EACH OF THEM HAVE KIND OF THEIR OWN CALCULATIONS AS TO WHETHER OR NOT IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE OR NOT.

>> YEAH.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY ARE THE KEY ISSUES AT PLAY HERE?

>> WELL, SO IT DEPENDS UPON THE PERSON.

HOCHUL SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN THE WARMEST TOWARD MAMDANI.

SHE IS UP FOR RE-ELECTION NEXT YEAR.

SHE IS A MODERATE AND SHE SEES A LOT OF EXCITEMENT IN THE PARTY'S BASE THAT MAMDANI COULD POTENTIALLY BE VERY HELPFUL IN DELIVERING.

SO'S THERE BEEN NO FORMAL ENFORCEMENT.

BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE TEAMS FOR BOTH THE GOVERNOR AND MAMDANI ARE TALKING REGULARLY.

JUST THIS LAST WEEK, WE SAW MAMDANI OUTSIDE A SCHOOL PRAISING GOVERNOR HOCHUL'S SIGNATURE ACCOMPLISHMENT, WHICH WAS A BELL-TO-BELL BAN ON INTERNET-CONNECTED SMART DEVICES IN SCHOOL AND WE HAVE SEEN HOCHUL DEFEND HIM MULTIPLE TIMES.

THE EXPECTATION IS SOMETHING THAT WILL COME TOGETHER WITH THEM.

JEFFERIES HAS A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT CALCULATION.

HIS GOAL IS A NATIONAL GOAL IN THAT HE WANTS TO SHEPHERD DEMOCRATS INTO THE HOUSE MAJORITY IN THE UPCOMING ELECTIONS AND TO DO THAT, HE'S GOING TO NEED TO WIN IN MARGINAL DISTRICTS, SUBURBAN DISTRICTS, NOT JUST IN NEW YORK STATE BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND IN MANY OF THESE DISTRICTS, VOTERS ARE A LITTLE BIT MORE CONCERNED ABOUT SOME OF MAMDANI'S FAR LEFT POLICIES.

THEY'RE CONCERNED ABOUT HIS ASSOCIATION WITH THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS OF AMERICA.

IN NEW YORK, WE'VE SEEN SOME OF THOSE MODERATE MEMBERS WHO ARE IN THE BATTLEGROUND DISTRICTS, LORI GILLAND AND TOM SUOZZI, SAY THAT MAMDANI SHOULD LEAVE THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY FOR HIS OWN PARTIES.

SO JEFFERIES REALLY NEEDS TO BALANCE THOSE CANDIDATES RUNNING ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN SWING DISTRICTS WITH HIS POLITICS BACK HOME.

JEFFERIES REPRESENTS AREAS OF CENTRAL BROOKLYN THAT HAVE LONG BEEN PREDOMINANTLY POPULATED BY MIDDLE CLASS BLACK VOTERS AND BLACK FAMILIES, AND YOU KNOW, THEY'VE BEEN UNDER PRESSURE FOR GENTRIFICATION FOR REALLY THE LAST DECADE AND A HALF.

MANY PEOPLE, INCLUDING PEOPLE CLOSE TO JEFFERIES SEE MAMDANI AND THE DSA AS SORT OF INDICATIVE OF THAT WAVE AND THEY PARTICULARLY TAKE A LOT OF UM BRIDGE WITH PROGRESSIVE DSA-BACKED CANDIDATES CHALLENGING ESTABLISHED BLACK ELECTED OFFICIALS IN BROOKLYN AND ELSEWHERE IN NEW YORK CITY.

SO JEFFERIES IS KIND OF BALANCING BOTH OF THOSE THINGS.

HE HAD A RECENT MEETING WITH MAMDANI AND REPRESENTATIVE YVETTE CLARK WHO REPRESENTS A NEIGHBORING DISTRICT IN BROOKLYN AND RECENTLY TOLD REPORTERS, WHEN ASKED ABOUT WHY HAVEN'T YOU ENFORCED MAMDANI, WHY HAVEN'T YOU ENDORSED MAMDANI, STAY TUNED.

>> YEAH.

AND THIS WEEK, WE SAW, OF COURSE, THE BRONX DELEGATION COME OUT IN SUPPORT OF MAMDANI.

SO HOW IMPORTANT IS IT FOR THE ASSEMBLY MEMBER TO GET THE SUPPORT OF HIS COLLEAGUES IN THE LEGISLATURE?

>> YEAH.

IT'S YET ANOTHER INDICATION THAT HE'S WORKING TO BROADEN HIS BASE.

AGAIN, HE DIDN'T COME IN TO THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY WITH A LOT OF THAT ESTABLISHMENT SUPPORT, BUT ONCE HE WAS VICTORIOUS, HE QUICKLY REALIZED THAT JUST HOLDING THAT PROGRESSIVE BASE IS NOT GOING TO BE ENOUGH IN THE GENERAL ELECTION.

SO WHEN I SEE THE BROOKLYN DELEGATION, THE BROOKLYN LEADER, ASSEMBLY MEMBER RODNEYSE BICHOTTE HERMALYN, FROM THE BRONX, OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS, ALL OF THAT SPEAKS TO A BROADENING OF MAMDANI'S APPEAL AND TO SORT OF THE DEMOCRATIC MACHINERY OF NEW YORK CITY STARTING TO KICK IN BEHIND MAMDANI.

AGAIN, THESE ARE PEOPLE AND ENTITIES THAT WERE NOT WITH HIM IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY, BUT WILL THEORETICALLY BE HELPING HIM TO SOME DEGREE IN THE GENERAL ELECTION.

SO I DON'T KNOW THAT IS EARTH-SHATTERING BUT IT'S CERTAINLY GOOD AND I EXPECT WE'RE GOING TO SEE MORE OF IT, INCLUDING POTENTIAL ENDORSEMENTS FROM SOME OF THOSE TOP OFFICIALS THAT WE JUST TALKED ABOUT.

>> CAN YOU SPEAK TO WHAT THE STRATEGY SHOULD BE FOR EACH OF THE CANDIDATES HEADING INTO THE LAST DAYS OF THIS ELECTION CYCLE?

>> SURE.

I THINK MAMDANI NEEDS TO CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN MOMENTUM WITH HIS PROGRESSIVE BASE AND ALSO BROADEN HIS APPEAL.

I THINK THAT GETTING ESTABLISHMENT ENDORSEMENTS IS GOING TO BE PART OF THAT AND I THINK HE REALLY NEEDS TO ARGUE TO VOTERS WHO MAY BE ON THE FENCE ABOUT HIM OR UNCOMFORTABLE ABOUT LIMB THAT HE CAN GOVERN, THAT HE CAN BE AN EFFECTIVE MAYOR.

HE HAS NOT HAD A JOB IN WHICH HE HAD TO MANAGE A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE LET ALONE BUREAUCRACY IN A CITY AS LARGE AND COMPLICATED AS NEW YORK.

I THINK HE NEEDS TO TAKE ACTIONS TO DO THAT.

ANDREW CUOMO, I THINK, NEEDS TO CONTINUE TO MAKE THE ARGUMENT THAT HE IS THE ONE WITH EXPERIENCE AND MAMDANI DOES NOT HAVE EXPERIENCE.

SO CUOMO HAS BEEN ATTACKING MAMDANI.

HE HAS BEEN QUESTIONING HIS POLICIES AND THE POLICIES OF THE DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS OF AMERICA.

THESE ARE THINGS LIKE SUPPORT FOR LEGALIZING PROSTITUTION OR CHANGES TO POLICING THAT WOULD RESULT IN POSSIBLE REDUCTIONS ENFORCE OR DISBANDING OF CERTAIN NYPD UNITS.

WHENEVER CUOMO CAN RAISE THE CONVERSATION AND MAKE IT ABOUT SOME OF THESE POLICY POSITIONS, HE CAN PRESENT THE QUESTION TO VOTERS AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THEY REALLY WANT TO DEAL WITH MAMDANI.

ADAMS, FOR THE LARGE PART, REALLY HAS A VERY SIMILAR STRATEGY.

HE ALSO NEEDS TO RAISE QUESTIONS ABOUT MAMDANI'S FITNESS BUT ALSO ARGUE THAT HE, IN HIS FOUR YEARS AS MAYOR, HAS REAL DELIVERABLES AND DESERVES A SECOND TERM.

SO ADAMS HAS LOOKED AT JOB GROWTH SINCE HE TOOK OFFICE IN THE CITY.

OF COURSE, HE WAS SWORN IN RIGHT AT KIND OF THE TAIL END OF THE WORST PARTS OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, ADAMS, A FORMER POLICE OFFICER WANTS TO TALK ABOUT CRIME AND PUBLIC SAFETY AND HE WANTS TO TALK ABOUT THE LOWER NUMBERS OF SHOOTINGS AND HOMICIDES THAT ARE CURRENTLY TAKING PLACE, THIS SORT OF SPIKE IN CRIME THAT ACCOMPANIED THE PANDEMIC, HAS EBBED ACROSS THE COUNTRY BUT IN NEW YORK AS WELL, SO ADAMS WANTS TO MAKE THE CASE THAT HE HAS A RECORD THAT'S WORTHY OF A SECOND TERM, AND THEN CURTIS SLIWA NEEDS TO ENERGIZE THE REPUBLICAN BASE AND POINT OUT ALL THE FLAWS IN THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES.

ADAMS, OF COURSE, HAS GRAPPLED WITH FEDERAL CORRUPTION INVESTIGATIONS.

THERE WAS VERY RECENTLY AN INDICTMENT OF A TOP OFFICIAL IN THE ADAMS' ADMINISTRATION.

SO SLIWA HAS LOTS OF AMMUNITION TO WORK WITH.

HE CAN ALSO REMIND VOTERS ABOUT ANDREW CUOMO'S PAST SCANDALS, AND HE CAN, AGAIN, LIKE THE OTHER CANDIDATES, POINT TO MAMDANI'S INEXPERIENCE.

SO I THINK ALL OF THESE CANDIDATES HAS A WAY FORWARD, WHETHER IT'S GOING TO RESONATE WITH VOTERS AND EXACTLY WHETHER THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO CREDIBLY MAKE THEIR CASE IS SOMETHING THAT REMAINS TO BE SEEN AND I'LL BE WATCHING FOR IN THESE LAST WEEKS OF THE CAMPAIGN.

>> WOW.

FASCINATING.

WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR INCREDIBLE REPORTING, JIMMY.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR TODAY.

>> THANKS, SHANTEL.

ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

>> WE WERE SPEAKING WITH JIMMY VIELKIND KIND OF WNYC AND THE NEW YORK PUBLIC NEWS NETWORK.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> NOW TURNING TO OUR NEXT TOPIC, THE ANNUAL NEW YORK STATE FAIR IS BACK AND BETTER THAN EVER THIS YEAR AND OUR ELISE KLINE TOOK A DAY TRIP TO THE FAIR ON BEEF DAY TO EXPERIENCE THE NEW ATTRACTIONS AS WELL AS SOME FAN FAVORITES.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK.

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> WE ARE BACK AT THE NEW YORK STATE FAIR FOR MORE ADVENTURES AND WE'RE TAKING YOU WITH US.

PEOPLE ARE LINING UP AT THE GATES.

IT'S SUNNY.

THERE'S A LIGHT BREEZE.

IT'S JUST A GORGEOUS DAY.

THEY'RE READY TO GET THROUGH THE GATES AND HAVE SOME FUN.

THIS YEAR, THE FAIR TURNS 184 YEARS OLD.

IT WAS FIRST INAUGURATED IN 1841.

TODAY, WE'RE GOING TO CHECK OUT SOME PERFORMERS AND SEE SOME NEW AND OLD ATTRACTIONS AND OF COURSE, TRY A FEW RIDES.

SO LET'S GET STARTED.

EACH DAY OF THE 12-DAY FAIR HAS THEMES.

TODAY'S THEME IS BEEF DAY.

BEEF DAY'S CELEBRATING ITS 30TH ANNIVERSARY HIGHLIGHTS THE STATE'S BEEF INDUSTRY WITH A VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES.

THIS INCLUDES FREE COW EAR HEADBANDS AN, INTERACTIVE BOOTH, A DAIRY BIRTHING TENT FEATURING ADORABLE BABY COWS, AND A SUPREME SHOW, A LIVESTOCK EVENT FEATURING THE BEST FEMALE CATTLE FROM COUNTIES ACROSS THE STATE.

RICHARD BALL, COMMISSIONER OF THE NEW YORK COMMISSION OF AGRICULTURE, SAYS BEEF DAY HIGHLIGHTS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE STATE'S AGRICULTURE.

>> BEEF IS A GROWING INDUSTRY IN NEW YORK.

WE HAVEN'T REACHED THE POINT WHERE WE'VE SATURATED THE MARKET IN ANY WAY.

REALLY GREAT TO CELEBRATE BEEF TODAY.

DOWN AT THE BEEF BARN, THEY'RE GOING TO BE DOING SOME SHOWS.

YOU'LL SEE SOME GREAT ANIMALS DOWN THERE.

>> ASHLEY >> ASHLEY SCOONES, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NEW YORK BEEF COUNCIL, SAYS BEEF DAY IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO BRING AWARENESS TO THE STATE'S BEEF PRODUCERS AND FARMERS.

>> IT GIVES OUR PRODUCERS AND BEEF FARMERS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO ADVOCATE FOR THE INDUSTRY, TO ADVOCATE WHAT THEY'RE DOING, KIND OF CREATE COMMUNITY AND SHARE ABOUT THE GREAT JOB THEY'RE DOING RAISING ANIMALS TO FEED THE COMMUNITY.

THE SUPREME SHOW IS ONE OF THE MAIN EVENTS OF BEEF DAY, FEATURING THE STATE'S BEST FEMALE CATTLE.

ZACH WELKER, PRESIDENT OF THE NEW YORK BEEF PRODUCERS ASSOCIATION, SAYS THE WINNERS OF THE SHOW CAN ENHANCE THEIR PRODUCTION BY GAINING MORE ATTENTION WITH THE PUBLIC AND THE JUDGES.

>> IT'S A GOOD MARKETING TOOL FOR CATTLE TO BE HERE AND BE SEEN FOR THEIR OPERATIONS.

THOSE CATTLE THAT WON A BANNER FOR THE SUPREME CATTLE SHOW IN PARTICULAR HAVE ALREADY BEEN SEEN AT A DIFFERENT COUNTY FAIR BY JUDGES AND DIFFERENT BREEDERS.

SO THAT'S A GREAT MARKETING TOOL WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO SELL GENETICS OR PROMOTE MAYBE YOUR FREEZER BEEF TRADE OR WHATEVER MAKEUP YOUR BUSINESS IS.

>> PIPER SOMERVILLE, A SHOWMAN FOR KOE, A FEMALE SHORTHORN, PLUS COMPETING IN THE SUPREME SHOW, SAYS GETTING TO THIS LEVEL AT THE NEW YORK STATE FAIR IS VERY EXCITING AFTER PLACING FIRST IN THE AGAIN IS A COUNTY FAIR COMPETITION.

>> WE'RE VERY EXCITED FOR THAT WIN BECAUSE WE'VE NEVER BEEN HERE AT THIS LEVEL FOR THE SUPREME DRIVE.

SO WE'RE EXCITED FOR THAT.

>> SOMERVILLE SAYS THEY SPENT A LOT OF TIME PREPARING HER FOR THE BIG COMPETITION.

>> IT'S ALWAYS AN EARLY MORNING.

WE ALWAYS START BY WASHING HER CALFS AND THEN GETTING THEM COMPLETELY DRY AND THEN THEY GET FIT.

SO THEY BASICALLY GET A WHOLE BUNCH OF PAINT AND GLUE IN THEMSELVES TO GET 'EM BLOOMY AND READY FOR THE SHOW RING.

SO WE CALL THAT FITTING.

AND THEN WE DO A LITTLE BIT OF CLIPPING ON HER AND THEN PUT SOME SHINE ON HER AND GET HER JUST READY FOR THE RING.

>> SOMERVILLE SAYS KOE IS ALWAYS READY TO STRUT HER STUFF WHEN IT COME TIME FOR THE SHOW.

>> OH, MY GOSH, THIS GIRL IS CRAZY, LIKE IN A GOOD WAY.

SHE IS JUST THE CALMEST THING EVER.

SHE'S BEEN MY PARTNER IN CRIME IN TERMS OF SHOWMANSHIP.

SO THAT'S HOW I SHOW THE ANIMAL.

SHE'S JUST A COMPLETE PUPPY DOG, AND IT'S WON ME SOME VERY BIG SHOWS WITH HOW CALM SHE IS AND I JUST LOVE HER SO MUCH FOR THAT.

>> SOMERVILLE SAYS KOE WON HER CLASS OF A CROSSBREED HEIFER, BUT SHE DIDN'T GET AN OVERALL AWARD.

SHE SAYS SHE DID VERY WELL, AND SHE'S PROUD OF ALL HER SUCCESS.

IN ADDITION TO SPECIAL FAIR DAYS, THE FAIR HAS POPULAR ATTRACTIONS EACH YEAR, SUCH AS THE BUTTER SCULPTURE AND A VARIETY OF ANIMAL BARNS.

ONE OF THE FAIR'S MOST POPULAR ATTRACTIONS IS THE HOLLYWOOD RACING PIGS.

CRYSTAL CORONAS SAYS THE HOLLYWOOD RACING PIGS HAVE BEEN AROUND AS LONG AS SHE CAN REMEMBER, AND SHE'S ALWAYS BEEN A PART OF IT.

>> I'VE ALWAYS BEEN PARTICIPATING WITH IT BEING A FAMILY BUSINESS, KIND OF BEING BORN INTO WHAT WE DO.

I'VE ALWAYS BEEN OUT HERE SINCE I WAS A KID, AND I'VE LOVED IT SINCE I WAS A KID, AND LIKE I SAID, IT'S BECOME A REALLY BIG PART OF OUR FAMILY.

>> CORONAS SAYS HER FAMILY HAS A HISTORY OF WORKING WITH THE ANIMALS AND ENTERTAINING.

SO THE RACING PIGS HAVE BEEN A PERFECT FIT.

>> SO PIG RACING IS DEFINITELY NOT A NEW THING.

IT'S KIND OF A FAMILY TRADITION FOR MANY, MANY YEARS IN HISTORY AT THE FAIR.

SO I THINK WITH US BEING ENTERTAINERS ANIMAL LOVERS, WE'VE COMBINED IT AND IT WORKED OUT REALLY WELL FOR OUR FAMILY.

>> THE FULL-GROWN MINIATURE POTBELLY PIGS PARTICIPATE IN TWO RACES, ONE WITH TWO OF THEM AND THE OTHER WITH SIX OF THEM.

THERE ARE MULTIPLE RACES PER DAY AND THE PIGS LOVE IT.

CORONAS SAYS THE PIGS HAVE BEEN IN THEIR FAMILY FOR A FEW YEARS.

SHE SAYS THEY LOVE RUNNING ON THE TRACK.

>> WHEN THEY'RE RACING, THEY HAVE BOTH FEET FORWARD, I'LL SAY.

THEY ARE DEFINITELY ON A MISSION TO GET AROUND THIS TRACK, AND I HAVE SEEN THEM GET A LITTLE COMPETITIVE.

>> AS MUCH AS THE PIGS LOVE RUNNING, THE CROWD LOVES WATCHING.

WE WATCHED THE 3:00 P.M. RACE WHERE NUMBER ONE ARI-HAMMA-GRANDE CROSSED THE FINISH LINE WITH SPEED WINNING THE RACE.

WELL, THAT WAS REALLY EXCITING TO WATCH.

AND THESE ANIMALS ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES READY TO PUT ON A SHOW.

AND THESE ANIMALS ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES READY TO PUT ON A SHOW.

THE CANINE STARS STUNT DOG SHOW THIS YEAR COMES TO THE FAIR FOR THE FIRST TIME.

I'M DYING TO SEE IT, SO LET'S GO CHECK IT OUT!

THE CANINE STARS STUNT DOG SHOW HAVE PERFORMED AROUND THE WORLD AND ON THE 2021 SEASON OF "AMERICA'S GOT TALENT."

ETHAN WILHELM STARTED THE CANINE STARS STUNT DOG SHOW WITH HIS WIFE IN 2012.

THE SHOW FEATURES DOGS RESCUED FROM EUTHANASIA.

>> WE WANTED TO START SOMETHING WHERE WE COULD NOT ONLY PROMOTE PET ADOPTION BUT ALSO PROMOTE HEALTHY LIFESTYLES WITH YOUR PETS AT HOME.

PEOPLE CAN COME OUT HERE AND WE KIND OF TEACH YOU A COUPLE THINGS DURING THE SHOW HOW IMPORTANT IT IS THAT YOUR DOG IS GETTING PROPER NUTRITION AND EXERCISE AND HOW IMPORTANT JUST HAVING A POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR DOG IS.

>> THE PERFORM UP ANDS HAVE BEEN TO "AMERICA'S GOT TALENT," NICKELODEON, "THE NICK CANNON SHOW," AND NOW THE NEW YORK STATE FAIR.

>> THEY'RE KIND OF LIKE LITTLE SUPERSTARS.

OUR MOTTO IS MY RESCUE IS A ROCK STAR.

SO WE LIKE THE DOGS TO KIND OF LIVE LIKE ROCK STARS, TOO.

WILHELM SAYS THEY HAVE RESCUED DOGS FROM A VARIETY OF SITUATIONS, SUCH AS DOG FIGHTING, STRAYS ON THE STREET, AND BEING SENT BACK TO SHELTERS.

HE SAYS NOW THE 15 PERFORMING UP ANDS STAY WITH HIM AND HIS WIFE WHEN THEY AREN'T PERFORMING.

>> THEY'RE NOT JUST LIKE CIRCUS DOGS.

THEY'RE LIKE FAMILY MEMBERS.

THEY'RE OUR PETS.

THEY SLEEP IN THE BED WITH US AND STUFF.

THEY HAVE THEIR OWN TOUR BUS, WHICH IS PRETTY COOL.

YEAH, OUR WHOLE LIFE REVOLVES AROUND DOGS.

THE DOGS ARE LIKE OUR CHILDREN.

>> WILHELM SAYS WHEN THEY RESCUE THE DOGS, THEY SPEND A LOT OF TIME FIGURING OUT HOW THEY LEARN BEST AND WHAT THEY'RE MOTIVATED BY, TOYS, TREATS, OR PRAISE.

HE SAYS THEY USE POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT TRAINING TO GET THE UP ANDS READY TO PERFORM THEIR TRICKS.

>> THAT MEANS THAT EVERY TIME THE DOGS DO WHAT WE WANT THEM TO DO, THEY GET A REWARD FOR IT.

THAT MEANS TREATS, LIKE NICK IS GETTING BRISKET AND HOT DOGS RIGHT NOW.

THEY ALSO LOVE TOYS, FRISBEES, AND A LOT OF THEM WILL DO IT JUST FOR PRAISE.

>> WILHELM SAYS THIS TYPE OF TRAINING IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE SOME OF THE TRICKS ARE DANGEROUS.

ONE TRICK WITH A UP AND CALLED SHIZAM INVOLVES HER JUMPING OVER EIGHT FEET AND BEING CAUGHT BY WILHELM.

>> YOU CAN'T FORCE A DOG TO DO THAT.

SO WE HAVE TO BUILD A SLOW BOND OF TRUST WITH THE DOGS, AND WE DO THAT WITH POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT.

THAT'S HOW THE DOGS ARE ABLE TO TRUST US, THAT WE'RE GOING TO CATCH THEM AND THEY CAN MAKE THAT BIG LEAP.

AND SOME OF THE OTHER STUFF IS LIKE JUMPING IN THE POOL, A LOT OF DOGS ARE REALLY NERVOUS ABOUT DOING THAT.

SO THEY HAVE TO TRUST US THAT WE'RE GONNA DO A GOOD THROW AND THEY TRUST US THAT IT'S OKAY TO JUMP IN THERE.

THEY KNOW THAT IT'S GONNA BE A POSITIVE THING FOR THEM.

>> WILHELM SAYS AT THE FAIR, THEY'VE HAD SOME OF THE BIGGEST CROWDS OF THEIR YEAR AND THE DOGS LOVE IT.

>> WHEN THEY HEAR PEOPLE CHEERING FOR THEM, IT LIGHTS A FIRE IN THEM AND THEY JUMP HIGHER, AND THEY RUN FASTER, SO THEY'RE REALLY LOVE BEING HERE AT THE NEW YORK STATE FAIR.

>> SARAH SCHENKEN BERGER, AN AUDIENCE MEMBER AT THE FAIR WHO WAS SPLASHED BY SOME OF THE POOL TRICKS, SAYS EVEN THOUGH SHE GOT WET, SHE THOUGHT THE PERFORMANCE WAS VERY ENTERTAINING.

I KIND OF ANTICIPATED IT WOULD HAPPEN STANDING RIGHT HERE SO IT WAS REALLY COOL, AND IT'S NICE TO SEE THAT RESCUE DOGS ARE BEING TAKEN CARE OF AND BEING USED FOR GOOD THINGS LIKE THIS.

FOR DEBBIE FURLONG, IT WAS HER FIRST TIME AT THE FAIR, AND SHE SAYS SHE WAS BLOWN AWAY.

>> I THOUGHT THE SHOW WAS FANTASTIC.

IT'S NICE, COOL WEATHER, AND WE'D SEEN THEM ON "AMERICA'S GOT TALENT" AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS INTERESTING THEN.

>> WE JUST SAW SOME REALLY BRAVE UP ANDS FLIP AND FLY THROUGH THE AIR.

I THINK I'D LIKE TO DO SOME FLYING MYSELF.

LET'S GO CHECK OUT SOME RIDES!

EVERY YEAR, THE NEW YORK STATE FAIR HAS A HOST OF RIDES AND GAMES FROM THE CLASSIC FERRIS WHEEL TO THE CARRISOL, AND THE SWINGING SEA DRAGON.

I DECIDED TO GO ON A CATERPILLAR RIDE WHERE I WAS JOINED BY A NUMBER OF FAIR-GOERS MUCH SMALLER THAN ME.

WHEN RIDE GOT STARTED, I PUT MY HANDS UP ALONG WITH SOME OF THE OTHER BRAVE FAIRGOERS.

>> AHHH, LOOK MA, NO HANDS!

WE'RE GOING UP.

WE'RE GOING UP, WE'RE GOING UP.

>> THE RISE HAD FASTER POINTS WHERE I COULD FEEL THE WIND BLOWING ON MY FACE AND THE EXCITEMENT BUILDING INTO YELLING AS WE TURNED THE CORNERS.

WELL, THAT WAS CERTAINLY A LOT OF FUN.

I HAD A BLAST.

I THINK SOME OF THE KIDS WERE PROBABLY A LITTLE BRAVER THAN ME ON THAT LAST RIDE, BUT WE'RE DEFINITELY GOING TO GO CHECK OUT SOME FOOD NEXT BECAUSE I'VE WORKED UP AN APPETITE.

LET'S GO CHECK OUT SOME OF THE OPTIONS.

THERE'S A LOT TO CHOOSE FROM.

THE FAIR HAS FOOD OPTIONS AROUND THE ENTIRETY OF THE GROUNDS.

THEY HAVE FAIR CLASSICS LIKE FUNNEL CAKES, TURKEY LEGS, COTTON CANDY AND POPCORN.

THEY ALSO HAVE SEAFOOD, PULLED PORK, GYROS, AND FRIED OREOS.

TODAY FOR LUNCH, I DECIDED TO GO WITH ONE OF MY PERSONAL FAVORITES, A MEATBALL SUB, SO WE'RE GONNA GIVE IT A SHOT.

SEE HOW IT TASTES.

REALLY GOOD.

IN ADDITION TO RIDES AND FOOD, ANOTHER STAPLE AT THE STATE FAIR IS THEIR CULTURAL VILLAGES.

THE INDIAN VILLAGE IS ONE OF THE FOUR CULTURE VILLAGES AT THE FAIR, WHERE THE FAIRGOERS CAN IMMERSE THEMSELVES IN DIFFERENT HERITAGES.

HEATH HILL, THE ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF THE HAUDENOSAUNEE VILLAGE, SAYS THE FAIR HELPS EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT NATIVE AMERICAN HISTORY.

>> IT BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER, AND WE GET TO SHOWCASE WHO WE ARE AND THAT WE'RE STILL HERE.

AND WE EDUCATE 'EM ABOUT THINGS PEOPLE DON'T READ ABOUT IN TEXTBOOKS.

>> IN THE INDIAN VILLAGE, THERE ARE DANCE PERFORMANCES THROUGHOUT THE DAY, INCLUDING SOME SPECIAL DAYS SUCH AS SENECA DAY.

HILL SAYS IT'S BOTH A DANCE PERFORMANCE AS WELL AS A TIME TO TELL HISTORY.

>> THEY'LL GO INTO A HISTORY OF EVEN WHAT THEY'RE DOING NOW, TODAY, WHAT IT STARTED FROM, THINGS LIKE THAT.

EDUCATE THE PEOPLE.

>> HILL SAYS THE PERFORMANCES ARE ALWAYS BETTER WHEN THE CROWD INTERACTS AND GIVES BACK CHEERING ENERGY.

SOMETIMES FAIRGOERS EVEN DANCE ALONG WITH THE PERFORMERS ON THE GRASS.

>> THE BIGGER THE CROWD, THE BETTER THE DANCERS FEEL.

THEY'RE FEELING THE WAY THE CROWD GIVES OFF THE ENERGY, AND IT'S A GREAT SHOW.

>> HILL SAYS HE'S BEEN COMING TO THE FAIR SINCE HE WAS A KID AND NOW HE'S HERE WITH HIS FAMILY, WHICH IS VERY MEANINGFUL.

>> NOW I'M HERE WITH MY FAMILY.

MY YOUNG SON WAS ONE OF THE BOY DANCERS THAT WERE UP THERE.

SO IT'S PRODUCED OVER THE YEARS, AND I JUST LOVE SEEING NEW PEOPLE COMING IN AND SHOWCASING THEIR TALENTS.

>> FROM THE CULTURAL VILLAGES TO THE RIDES, GAMES AND ANIMAL ATTRACTIONS, EACH YEAR THE FAIR ATTRACTS THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE.

LAST YEAR, THE FAIR TURNED OUT MORE THAN 880,000 PEOPLE.

THIS YEAR, THE FAIR HAS TURNED OUT 925,000 PEOPLE.

HOWEVER, THE FAIR DIRECTOR, JULIE LAFAVE, SAYS THE FAIR'S SUCCESS IS ABOUT MORE THAN JUST ATTENDANCE.

>> A SUCCESSFUL FAIR MEANS PEOPLE CAME FOR THE COMPETITIONS.

THEY ENJOYED THE CONCERTS.

THEY ATE FOOD.

OUR VENDORS DID WELL, AND WE HAD A RECORD NUMBER OF ENTRIES.

SO WE LOVE TO SEE A HIGH ATTENDANCE NUMBER, A HIGH GATE NUMBER, BUT THAT'S NOT THE ONLY THING THAT MAKES THIS A SUCCESSFUL FAIR.

>> AS WE CLOSE OUT THE DAY, I HAVE TO ADMIT THERE'S TRULY NOT ENOUGH TIME IN ONE DAY TO SEE IT ALL, BUT WE MADE SOME GOOD STOPS.

ELISE KLINE, "NEW YORK NOW."

[ THEME MUSIC ] >> FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE FAIR, YOU CAN VISIT OUR WEBSITE.

AGAIN, THAT'S AT NYNOW.ORG.

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WELL, THAT DOES IT FOR THIS EDITION OF "NEW YORK NOW."

THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN AND SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.

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