Cornell University Cooperative Extension Hosts Annual “Visit the Farm Day” 2011

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Allegany & Cattaraugus Counties celebrates its agricultural heritage, promotes local farms, and provides residents the opportunity to indulge in seasonally fresh food during the Annual Visit the Farm Day program. The Farm Day provides people with an opportunity to purchase fresh fruits, vegetables, flowers, plants and other local products. Several farms have demonstrations and other fun and educational activities for all ages. It's an educational experience and a great family day outing. 

The event is free and open to the public. Visitors are welcome to stop by 1 or several of the farms. These 16 enterprises represent some of the diverse farm enterprises in our community. Your farm neighbors will host visitors on Saturday, September 10, 2011.  You will be able to purchase products from the farms. Some of what you will find on your tour: trees, maple products, vegetables, flowers, alpacas, sheep, fiber & clothing products, seasonings, dressings, beef, lamb, chicken. Times vary per site; please note some locations have tour start times.

 Dixieland Tree Farm is located at 12189 Versaille-Silver Creek Road in the Township of Perrysburg.  You will be able to see Christmas trees and a complete description of the cycle while touring the farm.  Visitors hosted expanded hours from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

 Forevergreens owned by John Rosier is located at 11398 Bolton Road in Springville.  Growers  of over 50 varieties of evergreens including dwarf, weeping and slow growing conifers.  There is also maples, oaks, arborvitae, birch, fruit trees, flowering pear, flowering cherry, weeping cherry and more.  Visitors will be able to see how trees are dug out of the ground, balled and burlapped (B&B), and the correct procedure for planting trees as well as a tour of fields growing trees. Potted and B&B trees available for purchase. Visitor hosted expanded hours from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM.  Schedule tour times every ½ hour.

Carl (Butch) and Barb George, Jr are the owners of Car-Bu Farms at 10365 Maple Grove Road in Delevan.  The farm is around the corner on Cheeseman Hill Rd. Car-Bu Farms LLC is a modern dairy emphasizing cow comfort and environmental responsibility. The milking herd of 450 Holsteins enjoys sand bedded free-stalls, with fans and misters to keep them cool they respond with over 80 lbs per cow of high quality milk on a 3 times per day milking schedule.  Car-Bu Farms welcomes your visit; you will be able to view the cows being milked and have the opportunity to pet a cow and calf.  This farm will be open from 10am-2pm.

LadySong is a woman owned/operated farm by Judith Korff  at 2473 Bunker Hill Road, Cold Spring Township.  They raise Suri alpacas, Silkie and Cochin chickens and Runner ducks.  Their poultry is part of our Integrated Pest Management system but of course also provide eggs and lots of entertainment.  In addition to the scheduled shearing demonstration, visitors will be able to enjoy seeing the alpacas in the pastures and barn.  During the day there will be ongoing skirting, carding, spinning and felting demonstrations.  Visitor Hosted expanded hours from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.  Scheduled tour times: Hand shearing demonstration at 2:30 PM

Burdick Blueberries is located at 8267 Thompson Road in Cattaraugus.  Here you find u-pick blueberries, u-pick flowers, onions, potatoes, garlic and raspberries.  Visitors will be hosted from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM

Wild Acres Family Farm owned by Don & Sharon Wild and located at 5963 Route 98 Great Valley was started in 1984 when they moved their equipment from Orleans County to Great Valley to grow a few potatoes.  A few 4-H animals expanded to an intensive grazing system with different forages; teaching children responsibility with chores and their own projects.  All products are “direct marketed” to the consumer.  Their goal is to provide the highest quality products, family unity and training children.  What will you see? Different fencing materials and alternatives to guide/control livestock; pastured sheep, lambs, horses (mini), poultry and hogs.  Learn how to maximize land area using accelerated methods.  Visitor hosted expanded hours from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.  Scheduled tour times on the hour.

 Snow Brook Organics is home to Dan, Marcy and children Kate, Avery, Maitlin and Marjorie.  Family owned since 1947 and located at5346 Snow Brook in the Township of Great Valley they transitioned to organic in February 2010 and ship to Horizon.  They expanded from 45 to 60 cows.  They are currently under construction to install a Delaval robotic milker; the only Delaval unit in New York. They intend to sell raw milk on farm (pending licensing) and processing to yogurt and cheese also pigs and chickens.  Learn and understand organic production and hopefully see the robot pending completion.  Cows, horses, mini horses, mini donkey, pigs, piglets, chickens and 3 border collies.  Visitor hosted expanded hours from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

 

 

Bockmier’s Farm Market owned by Jim and Sheila Bockmier is located at 3809 Old State Road in the Township of Allegany.  They grow small crops for sale at their farm market.  Sweet corn is the largest crop.  They also sell nursery stock and annual and perennial plants.  Small crops include watermelon, cantaloupe, salad tomatoes, lettuce – much of the produce is purchased from Eden Valley area farms.  They also have u-pick raspberries on site. Sweet corn, jams & jellies, several vegetables available for purchase.  Visitors hosted from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

 Canticle Farm is a not-for-profit, Community Supported Agriculture [CSA], Certified Naturally Grown [CNG], diverse vegetable farm. It is located at 3835 S. Nine Mile Road in the town of Allegany.  The farm grows over 40 different types of regional vegetables. Vegetable varieties (including a significant number of heirloom varieties) number in the 100s. The farm’s CNG certification ensures that vegetables are grown in a sustainable, chemical-free environment, from seed to sale. The farm has well developed and growing educational and community outreach programs. A significant portion of Canticle Farm’s annual harvest is donated to charity. Established in 2001, Canticle Farm has been offering locally grown, healthy and fresh vegetables to the surrounding communities for over 11 years.  Farm will be open to visitors from 10 AM to 2 PM.  Scheduled tours will be held at 10 AM, 11 AM, 12 PM, and 1 PM.

 Olean REAP Farmers’ Market is held at the JCC Arch Parking Lot at 260 N. Union Street (Route 16) in Olean.  Several farms participate in the Farmers’ Market. Some items available: fruits, vegetables, herbs, bedding plants, hanging baskets, cut flowers, jams and jellies, meat and eggs. Some certified naturally grown.  Visitor hosted expanded hours from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

 

Skyview Farm at 6566 Mt. Monroe Road in Cuba is next.  Farm visitors may pick their own winter squash and watch goat milking demonstrations. Also come see their goats, sheep and baby kids (goat children) along with hogs raised at Skyview Farm. Visitors hosted from 10 AM to 2 PM

 Bonnie, Brandon & Paul Yox owners of Baldwin Hill Farms, LLC is at 8508 Baldwin Hill Road in the township of Rushford.  Baldwin Hill Farm is a maple producing facility.  They market the maple syrup but also take it one step farther and include this sweet, 100% natural substance in their other products.  You can sample BBQ sauces, salad dressings, dip mixes, maple vinegars and much more!  Visit their family run modern facility and see how maple syrup is made.  Visitors can tour the sugar house and try samples of products which will be available for sampling and purchase.  Visitors hosted expanded hours from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM

 Ruebarb Alpacas located at 10089 County Road 23 in the township of Centerville is home to LaRue and Barb Austin.  We started with 5 alpacas in 2002.  At the present time they have 22 – 3 more due this fall.  They started with 10 acres and now have 90.   Our farm welcomes visitors year round.  Visit the alpacas – feel the fleece on the animal.  Visit their store.  They will be serving refreshments. Visitors hosted from 10 AM to 2 PM

 The Andy Peet Farm at 1030 Claybed Rd is located about a mile south of Fillmore just off state Rt 19.   This is a second generation farm which offers dairy heifers, hay, and crops for sale.    Once an Allegany County Dairy of Distinction farm, the farm discontinued dairy operations several years ago but is now in the process of building a milking herd to once again begin milking operations in 2012. This is a great place for kids to experience animal agriculture with dairy and beef, cows and calves; chickens, goats, horses, rabbits and more.  Visitors hosted from 10 AM to 2 PM.

 

Fillmore Greenhouse Inc. is located at 10555 Route 19 in Fillmore.  Visit this hydroponics tomato enterprise with fifteen acres under glass. You will see plants over eight feet tall, harvesting and packing processes and learn about where these tomatoes are marketed. Plant disease transmission is a major concern for this facility.  They request that you wear clean (non-gardening) clothes and shoes. Tours will be offered at 10:00, 11:30 AM and at 1:00 PM. *Restroom facilities are available at this location.

 Bridgette Tojek is the owner of I-Tang-O at 10240 County Road 15 in the township of Granger. Multiple out buildings host ~150 free range chickens and multiple broods of chicks.    Walk through the variety of coops and pond area to see the different breeds.  Visitors hosted expanded hours from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

 Quest Farm Produce is a small “market garden” farm where owners and growers; Denis and Bridget Reynolds grow and sell a wonderful variety of vegetables and fruits, which they harvest daily.  They are certified organic growers and have a NYS Ag. & Markets license for their own triple washed, table ready, mixed greens and spinach.  They have a farm store where they sell produce and what they do not grow themselves, they source from your neighbors here in western New York including many of their meats, eggs, honey, and grains.  Visitors will be hosted from 12 PM to 2 PM.

 Join your friends and neighbors “Down on the Farm” on Saturday, September 10, 2011 to visit some diverse farms in our local community and learn more about agriculture production and experience all that our farms have to offer.  Visitors will be able to purchase products from the farms.  Look for the “Visit the Farm Day” signs.  For more information contact Lynn Bliven at 585-268-7644 ext. 18.