800 Students Attend Career Carnival at Wayne County Fair Grounds

September 25, 2025 – Palmyra, NY

Laughter? Fist-bumping robots? CPR demonstrations? Welding? Enthusiastic cries of “six-seven!”? It can only mean one thing: the 8^th Grade Career Carnival is back!

800 eighth graders from all eleven Wayne County public school districts and the Home School Association gathered today at the Wayne County Fairgrounds for the annual Career Carnival. The event connected students with 80 local employers and introduced them to careers in public safety, trades, medicine, agriculture, manufacturing, human services, and more.

The Career Carnival, hosted each fall by the Wayne County Partnership in collaboration with Wayne MOST and Wayne County Community Schools, is designed to help students begin thinking about their futures before they enter high school. By learning about opportunities early, students can make informed choices about their coursework and future training.

Employers presented students with games, fun, challenges, hands-on learning activities, and important career information. A delicious hot lunch rounded out the day.

“We enjoy raising career awareness in kids — particularly around nuclear energy,” said Emily Bitgood, Workforce Development Manager at Constellation Energy, the event’s Premiere Sponsor.

Bonnie Walden of Nazareth University was equally impressed: “The students were so polite and inquisitive. It was wonderful to see their genuine interest in learning about career options.”

Students were enthusiastic, if a little overwhelmed. Thomas, from Sodus, said he has wondered how a person entered a particular field, like orthopedics. Now he knows. Bradyn, from Lyons, was particularly impressed with the wide variety of manufacturers in the immediate area. Others liked the animals from the Humane Society the best.

Despite an afternoon rain shower that limited some of the planned outdoor activities, organizers say the event was a success. “We had a few behind-the-scenes hiccups, like always,” said Jeremy Hughes, who has coordinated the Carnival for the past three years. “But overall, today was a win for our students, our schools, and our community.”

Planning for the 2026 Career Carnival will begin soon. For updates, visit www.waynepartnership.org/career-carnival.

Event Sponsors

This year’s Premiere Sponsor was Constellation Energy. Additional support came from:

·        Big Dog Country 103.5

·        Dobbins Painting & Contracting

·        Finger Lakes Ambulance

·        Reliant Credit Union

·        Scarlet Thread Ministries

·        Seneca Farms

·        STEADY Work

·        WACK 1420 AM/96.9 FM

·        Walmart

·        the Wayne County Fair, and

·        Wegmans

Thanks to all who made this day a positive and memorable experience for Wayne County’s young people.