Ag Literacy Week Success

3,000 students learn about agriculture and local food systems

-by Katelyn Walley-Stoll, Farm Business Management Educator with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County

JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK (March 27th, 2018) -- Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County’s Agriculture Program is dedicated to providing opportunities for the public to interact with our local agriculture industry. In celebration of National Agriculture Week (March 20th – March 24th), area elementary students were able to participate in the New York Agricultural Literacy Week, locally coordinated by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County.

This year, 3,000 elementary aged students at 25 different locations in Chautauqua County enjoyed hearing a book entitled “Before We Eat: From Farm to Table” by Pat Brisson. This year, students were taken on the journey from farm to table to understand different aspects of agriculture and the many possible careers involved. This is a captivating glimpse on what it takes to bring the food we eat to us in order to nourish our bodies and spirits. The vivid illustrations, by Mary Azarian, show the depth of industries and diversity that agriculture includes.

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County coordinated Agricultural Literacy Week across Chautauqua County and regularly extends their services to celebrate and promote agriculture. Local Coordinator and Farm Business Management Educator for CCE-Chautauqua, Katelyn Walley-Stoll, thanked local volunteers and donors. “Ag Literacy Week is always an event that the agricultural community looks forward to every year. We’re excited to celebrate our local food systems and provide opportunities for our county’s young students to interact with a member of the agricultural community while also having the chance to learn more about the safe, wholesome products our local farmers work hard to produce every day”.

Donors that made this event possible were: Cargill Animal Nutrition - Kennedy, NY; Abers Acres; Andy Dufresne; Big Tree Maple; Bill and Donna Eskeli; Cassadaga Farm Supply; County Executive George Borello; Chautauqua County Farm Bureau; County Legislator John Hemmer; County Legislator Pierre & Judy Chagnon; Clymer Eager Beavers 4-H Club; Doug and Sue Harper; Frontier Brook Farm; Haffenden Insurance Agency; Ginny Carlberg, Carlberg Farm; Jim & Sue Barber; John and Carol Hardenberg; Knight Vineyards, LLC; Lonny & Robin Ormond; Matt Overfield; Miller’s Dairy Farm; Patricia Martonis; Peg Hite and Family; Philip and Carol Baideme; R&D Crowell Farm; Rebecca & Andy Joy & Family; Rich & Jan Jozwiak; Schofield Farms; Sue & Doug Seamans; and Windy Pines Farm.

Volunteer readers that shared their agricultural experiences with the area’s students were: Cassadaga Valley FFA and Cheryl Burns, Advisor; Cheryl Wahlstrom; Chris Pinkoski; Clymer FFA and Scott Aikens, Advisor; County Legislator Bob Bankoski; County Legislator John Hemmer; Danielle Moss; Dennis Webster; Dennis Wright; Donna Eskeli; Else Alonge; Erin Haffenden; Ginny Carlberg; Heidi Moss; Iris Ruiz; Jackie Dresser; Jacqueline Phelps; Janet Forbes; Jeff, Jennifer, and Katelyn Miller; Jen Estabrook; Jennifer Miller; Jenny Montalbano; John Hamels; Kate Ewer; Kate Robinson; Linnea Carlson; Lisa Kempisty; Lucia Conti; Pat Martonis; Peg Hite; Rita Sullenberger; Shannon Carpenter; Shelly Wells; Sherman FFA and Kelly Maleski, Advisor; Sondra Johnson; Steve Cockram; and Sue Harper.

Last updated March 27, 2018