On Wednesday morning, Governor Cuomo boarded a train with most of his commissioners and headed out the fairgrounds at Syracuse to open the 172nd state fair.

“This is just another new component to it. How do you get people to the fair,” said Cuomo.

Cuomo is highlighting a new promotion that encourages people to take the train to the fair by granting free admission with any round trip ticket.

Upon arriving after a three hour ride, Cuomo explained what he is trying to do to boost attendance here.

“This is a new fair than has ever existed before. So if you think you have gone to the state fair, think again. Because you have not. This is a different fair than ever before. And that’s why we are having record attendance,” said Cuomo.

And the attendance has been on the upswing.

“It is about new experiences,” said Cuomo.

Last year 1.2 million people visited the fair, and this year state officials say they are already on pace to do better along with musical performances from groups including Bad Company, Ice Cube, and Sheila E.

The governor walked the Fairgrounds, met some puppies. He drank a milkshake, showed very little interest in what we were told by visitors was an underwhelming butter sculpture this year. And of course ate some local sausage. All the while, posing for selfies and greeting attendees.

Over the last several years, Cuomo and state lawmakers have invested more than $100 million in the state fair. It is now the third highest attended state fair in the nation, and this yet it runs from now until September 2nd.