Photo Caption: Sarah Parker of Parable Farm discusses her methods of pasture raised Turkey production.

Sarah Parker of Parable Farm discusses her methods of pasture raised Turkey production.

Chautauqua Grown Features: Parable Farm

CCE-Chautauqua’s Farm-To-Table Initiative features Local Livestock CSA

JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK (September 1, 2016) -- Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County’s Agriculture Program is excited to introduce Parable Farm, a local, diversified livestock farm that offers a variety of products in Ripley, NY, as a featured farm listed on the Chautauqua Grown directory. Chautauqua Grown is your source for all things related to local foods in Chautauqua County, including a directory of farms, restaurants, farmers markets, wineries, and much more, and is available online by visiting www.cce.cornell.edu/chautauqua.

Parable Farm is owned and operated by Sarah Parker along with her husband, Rob, 12 year old son, Gavin, and her father, Keith Hagenbuch. The farm was purchased by Sarah’s parents in 1996 and started out as an organic dairy but eventually transitioned to a livestock farmstead that focused on high-quality meat production while maintaining a closed herd status. The family has continued to grow sustainably throughout the years while diversifying their product offerings.

Parable Farm currently has 94 grass-fed and non-GMO Black Angus and Red Devon beef cows that peacefully graze throughout the year. This year, Parable Farm also has 75 turkeys, 21 hogs, and have raised 1,000 broilers in batches of 200 throughout the season. They do all of this on their 683 acre farmstead while utilizing non-GMO feeds and focusing on raising healthy animals in a sustainable manner. The farm markets their products primarily through over 50 CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) shares, and their farm store, as well as sales to area restaurants and institutions. They also collaborate with area farmers to share resources and reduce waste. Parable Farm feeds whey by-products to their hogs from a local cheese shop, as well as bread waste that otherwise would have been incinerated from an area bakery business. They also utilize solar power for their electrical fencing system.

Sarah Parker, also a Registered Nurse, likes to emphasize wellness at Parable Farm both for the animals and for their customers, along with education. “I know that’s what I’m here for. I was intended to help people heal, and this is a place of healing,” Parker said while describing her role on the farm and the farm’s mission. Parable Farm’s dedicated customer base appreciates the support and education that is offered beyond a typical CSA share’s food products.

On Sunday, September 11th, Parable Farm is hosting a “Farm Visit Day” where the public is invited to come visit their farmstead from Noon to 5pm. There will be farm tours, food samplings, and a honey extraction demonstration as well as opportunities to hear from the farm owners and to ask questions about their operation. This event is free and open to the public. There will also be representatives from area businesses that the farm collaborates with throughout the year.

To learn more about Parable Farm and their products available, visit their profile on Chautauqua Grown at www.cce.cornell.edu/chautauqua/chautauqua-grown/parable-farm or give them a call at 716-581-1709. You can also stop by their farm store or visit them on September 11th at the “Farm Visit Day” by making the scenic drive to 9584 NE Sherman Road, Ripley, NY. Their website, www.parablefarm.com, features additional information on their CSA shares and pricing.

CCE-Chautauqua will be featuring our local farms listed on Chautauqua Grown through a series of press releases in the coming weeks. For more information about Chautauqua Grown, visit www.cce.cornell.edu/chautauqua, or contact Katelyn Walley-Stoll, Farm Business Management Educator, at 716-664-9502 ext. 202 kaw249@cornell.edu.

Chautauqua Grown is one of many programs offered by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County (CCE-Chautauqua). CCE-Chautauqua is a community based educational organization, affiliated with Cornell University, Chautauqua County Government, the NYS SUNY system, and the federal government through the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. For more information, call 716-664-9502 or visit our website at www.cce.cornell.edu/chautauqua. Cornell University Cooperative Extension provides equal program and employment opportunities.

Contact

Katelyn Walley-Stoll
Team Leader, Business Management Specialist
kaw249@cornell.edu
716-640-0522

Last updated September 1, 2016