Fair gives farmers chance to educate about food production

GEDDES >> Every year but one since the mid-1970s, the Kelsey family has come to the New York State Fair.

The Canastota family’s Monanfran Farm has brought seven Holsteins to show this year. Next week, they will be brining Suffolk Sheep to show.

One of the main goals of the family is to educate the public of the importance of farming, said Jenny Kelsey Mills, farm owner.

“Less than 2 percent of the population in the United States are farmers,” she said, noting that it

is sometimes hard for people to understand where their food is coming from.

Kelsey Mills says her farm brought show cows this year that are loaned to local youths who do not live on farms, but who participate in 4-H.

“Not everyone lives on a farm and this is a great way to get the kids involved in farming,” she said.

As part of the loan agreement with the students, her farm gets the students involved in the care and feeding of the animal in addition to training with the animal for shows.

In keeping with family tradition, Kelsey Mills brought her children, Lilly Mills, 7, and Logan Mills, 5, to the fair, where they are helping wash and feed the cows, like their mom did when she was a child.

Elsewhere at the fair, one new activity highlighting state agriculture is the TasteNY experience.

TasteNY creates opportunities to connect with local farmers, brewers and producers to experience the best in New York-made products, and getting stamps on a TrailCard. Once all seven stamps are collected, fill out the bottom of this Trail Card and return it to the TasteNY Tent to be eligible to win daily prizes.

Throughout the course of the Fair, which ends Sept. 2, wine and cheese seminars, will take place in the Taste NY Room of the Horticulture Building. Seminars will consist of presentations on recognizing the characteristics of New York State wines such as color and body, nose, flavor and finish. Each participant will taste wines from the presenting winery (and beer from at least one brewery) and have an opportunity to sample New York cheeses to determine their own best pairing.

To guarantee a seat for any of these free seminars, preregister by calling: 315487-7711, ext. 1335.

The schedule of seminars is as follows:

Aug. 25 – Owera Vineyards of Cazenovia – 2:30 and 5:30 p.m.

Aug. 26 – Ashley Lynn Wines – 2:30 and 5:30 p.m.

Aug. 27 – Merritt Estate Winery – 2:30 and 5:30 p.m.

Aug. 28 – Three Brothers Wineries and Estates – 2:30 p.m.

Aug. 29 – Fox Run Vineyards – 2:30 and 5:30 p.m.

Aug. 30 – King Ferry Winery – 2:30 and 5:30 p.m.

Aug. 31 – Beak and Skiff – 2:30 and 5:30 p.m.