мÓƶà¶à¿ª½±¼Ç¼

Gov. Kathy Hochul has removed the interim tag and appointed Julie LaFave as director of the New York State Fair. 

LaFave, who was hired as the fair's operations director in 2023, was named interim director in February. She succeeded Sean Hennessey, who was fair director for nearly two years. He left to take another job in state government. 

Since Hennessey's departure, LaFave has led planning for the 2024 fair. The fair will run from Aug. 21 through Sept. 2. 

"Julie's experience as operations director and interim director, coupled with her creativity and knowledge, are incredible assets to the long-term growth and vitality of the Great New York State Fair," Hochul said. 

A native of Saginaw, Michigan, LaFave moved to central New York in 2005. She worked for the town of Cicero in Onondaga County for nine years, then was named parks and recreation director for the town of Sullivan in Madison County. 

In 2018, Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh appointed LaFave as the city's parks commissioner — a position she held until last year. 

LaFave is excited to continue leading the fair. 

"I'm grateful to Governor Hochul for appointing me to this important role and to my team here at the fair who are working tirelessly to ensure that fairgoers leave with the feeling that the 2024 fair was one of the best yet," she said. 

In the fair's 183-year history, LaFave is the second woman to serve as its director. Bebette Yunis, who was appointed fair director by Gov. George Pataki in 2006, was the first woman to lead the fair.