Farm Fest 2009

[countrygal]

Just wanted to let everyone know that Farm Fest 2009 will be taking place at Finndale Farms in Steuben on June 5th. I will be there helping with Farm Tours. There will be over 900 elementary children there from 9:00-2:00 and then it opens to the public from 4:00-8:00. There will be farm tours, agricultural information, farm animals, a chicken BBQ, maple syrup, wine ice cream, etc. Let me know if you are interested and I will give you directions.

[Clipper]

Damn I wish I was "at home" so I could go. Sounds like fun. I applaud you folks CG that keep the agriculture business and farming in the public eye. I know it is for your own benefit as well, but the general public needs to see what farm life is all about, and also needs to know of the struggles of today's farmers to bring food and milk to our tables, when it has gotten so the milk costs more to produce than the price it brings on the market.

The family farm and the local dairy farmer is an endangered species, and when ya are all gone, we will be drinking imported, adulterated, unfresh crap from some other place besides the beautiful green pastures of upstate NY.

[concerned]

Wine ice cream. Now that sounds good.

[chris]

I seem to remember reading a post recently on "garlic ice cream" which I could not even phantom. But I suppose it could be possible remembering traveling on our way to Carmel from SF we stopped at some diner where everything was "garlic". (of course we were right in garlic country) But my toast came with garlic butter and leaving we saw garlic candy, garlic cake garlic everyhting you would never think to include garlic . I was turning greener than I had originally looked coming in (nursing a hangover from the nights in SF) ;D

PSS....no it wasn't garlic ice cream....it was lobster ice cream. Apperantly there is a place in Falmouth on Cape Cod that makes and serves it. Now I loooooooooove lobster but in ice cream???

[mamastirls25]

WELL CRAP

I really wanted to go but Ethan has surgery June 4th ,,

CRAP we went last year it was a BLAST

[countrygal]

I'm glad you had a good time last year, and sorry you'll miss this year. I hope Ethan does well with his surgery. Put next year on your calendar. It will be on June 4th at DiNitto Farms in Marcy! Hmmmmm, I think I know them....... ;D

[Clipper]

Hey! I know that name! Nice farm too! I am sure that the people that attend next year will be in for a special treat. The DiNitto dairy operation is absolutely amazing. Been there and toured that one. For any of you that have never met the DiNitto's, they are great people and ya gotta love em.

When I returned to the motel after touring the milking parlor and barns, Kathy almost drowned me with Fabreze, haha. Damn city girls anyhow, LOLOL. Even their immaculate barns still smell like cows, haha.

I bet the Finn farm is equally nice. I know the last generation of Finns ran a farm where you could eat off the floor of the barn, and everything had a place and was kept in that place.

EVERYONE should visit a local farm at least once. The magnitude of operations at a successful farm today is amazing. One needs to see where your milk comes from, and also know the statistics on what it costs to produce that milk and what the farmer gets for it, in order to understand the plight of the American dairy farmer.

It is imperative that we get behind our agriculture community and insist that the government find a way to insure profitability for our farmers. WE DON'T WANT TO BE FORCED TO IMPORT MILK, MEAT AND PRODUCE any more than we do today. Our beef that comes from other countries is suspect and we have no control over the way vegetables or animals are raised outside the parameters of our pure food laws.

Countrygal is way too modest and shy. Someone needs to stick up for these honorable and wonderful people that work their butts off 24/7 to feed us, and that are threatened with bankruptcy every day of their lives by rising costs and falling profits. Having worked on farms and even ran a dairy for a short time for a friend of my mom and dad's, I can tell you that there is no life closer to nature and God, and no life any more rewarding personally than growing things and caring for animals. Farmers put the bread and butter on our table. Time for EVERY SINGLE person to lobby their representatives for fair legislation to aid farmers.

Want to take an interesting trip, and educate your kids? Arrange for a local farmer to give you a tour and explain his farming operation to you and your children. Every kid needs to know where the milk they drink comes from and how much work goes into putting it in their glass at dinner time. I know for a fact that most can tour a farm within a 15 minute ride from home. Most farmers are proud enough of their operation to be glad to show you around. Most farmers are friendly folks and love people.

[countrygal]

Thank you for the kind words Clip.

Finndale Farms is VERY nice! The front of the barn is beautiful with wonderful windows. They do a wonderful job with their farm.

What people really need to understand is how Agriculture helps the local economy. We spend our money locally. We pay the same amount of taxes yet we use less municipal resources. Agriculture is very valuable to a community. And like you said, I for one do not want my food imported from another country where the inspection process is questionable!

This time next year I will be pulling my hair out and wondering what the heck I got us into. But I know it will be worth it in the end.

[lucy]

Countrygal there is some sort of farm land for sale in Westmoreland on Rt233 over by the Thruway. I think that they generally grow corn but I just thought that I would pass that on.

[countrygal]

Thanks Lucy!