The Oneida Daily Dispatch (Oneida, NY)
Open Farm Day celebrates agriculture
At Open Farm Day, visitors are invited to take a behind-thescenes look at just how local farms operate.
After an extra-long winter this year, summer is here and the Madison County farms are ready to celebrate. July means that Open Farm Day is quickly approaching. Open Farm Day is your chance to enjoy the bounty of some of Madison County’s wide array of farms.
On July 28 between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., Cornell Cooperative Extension of Madison County invites you to take a behind-the-scenes look at your local farms during its 10th annual Open Farm Day. This year 38 farms will open their gates to the public free of charge. Visitors will be treated to farm tours, rides, product samples, farm animals, recipes, and an all-around good time provided by Madison County’s booming agricultural community.
Planning on attending Open Farm Day this year? Whether you are a first time participant or returning visitor keep these few tips in mind to get the most out of your Open Farm Day experience:
1. Check out the farms: The most up-to-date farm profiles are available by visiting www.openfarmdaymadisoncounty.com. Read each farm’s profile to get a snapshot of what each stop has to offer. There is a wide variety of farms this year and with 38 farms participating there is definitely something for everyone.
2. Pick a lunch location: There are multiple farms offering lunch options this year. Where do you plan to be? There are lunch spots located all throughout the county. So, grab some lunch, take a seat, and enjoy the beautiful scenery of the local agriculture.
3. Plan your route: Don’t miss out on some of the special scheduled activities that will be running at different farms throughout the day. You never know what you are going to see at Open Farm Day. Of course there are lots of special and fun activities that you can only see
at Open Farm Day. There are so many new and returning farms all with great experiences to offer, the hard part is choosing just a few.
4. Bring a friend: Open Farm Day is a great day for all. Adults and children of all ages will find activities perfect for them. So grab a group and make an entire day of it. All participating farms are open for visitors from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
5. Pack a cooler: Last, but definitely not least, do not forget to pack your cooler. There will be many farms with products for sale. On what we hope will be a beautiful and sunny July day, you won’t want to turn down the chance to keep your meat, cheese, or vegetable samples fresh.
Open Farm Day Passports are available at 10 Price Chopper locations in CNY, in local Madison County newspapers, in Madison County libraries, and local farmers’ markets starting July 9. For more information on Open Farm Day participants or to download a passport instantly visit www. OpenFarmDayMadisonCounty.com — or follow Open Farm Day on Facebook to keep up-to-date on the latest Open Farm Day news. Be sure to make it to as many farms as you can — visit three or more farms with your passport and you will receive a free Open Farm Day giveaway. Don’t miss your chance to experience agriculture at its finest with your friends and family at this year’s Open Farm Day.
Open Farm Day would not be possible without the support of our sponsors: Price Chopper Su- permarkets, Farm Family Insurance, Farm Credit East, Cargill, Inc., Cazenovia Farmers’ Market, Gustafson & Wargo CPAs LLP, Colgate Inn, Colgate University and the Upstate Institute, United Healthcare, Jewitt’s Cheese House, Morrisville State College, Southern Madison Heritage Trust, Organic Valley Cooperative East, Madison County Farm Bureau, DeRuyter Farm and Garden Co-Op, The Gorman Foundation, Friends of Bill Magee, Tanner Insurance Agency, Inc., Dec and Benson CPAs, Byrne Dairy, Madison County Planning Department, CNY Solar, CORE Federal Credit Union, Flour and Salt Bakery, Valesky for Senate, Madison Tourism, The Shoppes at Johnny Appleseed, The CNY Fiber Arts and Produce Fair, Hamilton Whole Foods, Eagle News, and CNY Latino.