NORWICH – June is dairy month and in the spirit of all things dairy, the local agricultural community is pulling together for a day of celebration, agricultural education and fun activities for the 12th annual Dairy Day, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Chenango County fairgrounds.

The day kicks-off with the annual 5K Milk Run at 9 a.m. at the race track gate on East Main Street, followed by the Dairy Day Parade at 10:30. The parade – a traditional spectacle of tractors, milk trucks, bands, farm animals and more – will lead off from the Tops parking lot and make its way down East Main Street before finishing at the fairgrounds.

“We’re hoping to get a lot of families and we really try to emphasize activities for the kids and enough interesting things for the adults too,” said Dairy Day coordinator Marge Davis.

Also, at 11:30, Chenango County Habitat for Humanity will put women’s strength to the test when it sponsors a skillet toss. And new this year, flocks plastic ducks will make their way down Chenango River at noon in the first Dairy Day Duck Derby. The first place derby winner will receive a $100 grand prize; 2nd place will get $50, and $25 for 3rd place. Anyone wishing to purchase a duck for the derby can do so for $5 at the Cornell Cooperative extension, 99 N. Broad St. in Norwich; the Morrisville State College Norwich campus on Conkey Ave.; or Canal Street Hardware in Oxford. All proceeds will support a countywide scholarship for college students pursuing a degree in agriculture.

According to Davis, the duck derby has quickly caught on. Nearly 130 ducks have been sold thus far, she said.