Over 4,000 visitors this fall
toured Minns Farm in Seneca
Castle to gain a hands-on
understanding of how modern dairy farms operate.
The
biennial Fun on the Farm was established 18 years ago and has rotated around
the county highlighting a new host farm and attracting new community members at
each event. This year’s event included tour rides on 14 hay wagons that operated
continuously, presentations, NY food product samples and educational displays
from over 50 area businesses and organizations. New York food product vendors who provided
education about how their product was made, such as honey and maple syrup, were
also featured.
“It
doesn’t have to start that big and intimidating. Play on the strength of your
county to plan it,” said Julie Maslyn, who with her husband Pete, serve on the
event’s planning committee with representatives from Farm Bureau, Cornell
Cooperative Extension, local businesses, and local farmers.
The event, she
said, is effective at developing relationships with non-farm neighbors and
increasing agriculture literacy in the community.
“Neighbors get to
come up close and have a better idea of the big picture, which may help them be
more forgiving if you have a day with bad odor,” she said. “I’m always
surprised by what people ask that they don’t know.”
The
event kicked off with Friday tours by 600 students from three school districts:
Geneva, Marcus
Whitman and Red Jacket.
“The
school groups provide free promotion as many children convince their parents to
come back,” Mrs. Maslyn said. “But it’s also an important agriculture literacy
opportunity for the kids.”
On
Saturday the farms offered visitors a 45 minute wagon tour by the milking
parlor, calf hutches and heifer barn. Each wagon had two tour guides, who were
provided consistent talking points about the farm operation and key issues, and
answered questions. The wagon also had three stops: a biosecurity presentation
by veterinarians, a manure management presentation by Pro-Dairy specialist Karl
Cyzmmek, and a nutrition presentation by Cargill.
After
the tour visitors viewed over 50 displays by local businesses and organizations,
including master gardeners, banks, a bee keeper, and Cornell Cooperative
Extension. The event catered to kids with a time out coloring and activity
area, a 4-H petting zoo, and organized games, including a straw bale maze.
Local agribusiness
and business that support the farm sponsor the $6500 budget, which includes
purchase of T-shirts for volunteers, purchase of milk, rental of an ice cream machine, rental of port a potties,
and purchase of a billboard vinyl to advertise the event. Local businesses also
donated NY products including apples, cheese sticks and sauerkraut.
Visit http://www.ontariocountyfunonthefarm.com/
for more information.
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