Farmer Neighbor Dinner a Great Success

Jamestown, NY- (August 29, 2018) Chautauqua County is rich in agriculture, with over 1,500 farms producing grapes, milk, meat, crops, maple and vegetables. We also have many agribusinesses that serve our farms and families throughout Chautauqua County. Local residents are very fortunate to enjoy the local, nutritious foods produced and the open spaces that our farmers proudly manage.

To celebrate this agricultural bounty, local agricultural producers, agribusiness representatives, elected officials and non-farm neighbors enjoyed dinner and conversation at the 3nd Annual Chautauqua County Farmer Neighbor Dinner recently held at The Grandview of Ellington. This local event drew 260 people, sharing their interest in local agriculture and food production, and enjoying the beautiful view overlooking the hills and valleys from The Grandview of Ellington.

Our Master of Ceremonies, Dennis Webster, local radio broadcaster with WJTN and past recipient of the Friend of Agriculture award, provided an enjoyable evening for all and eloquently honored our award recipients.

Prior to dinner, attendees had the pleasure to hear from three local youth who shared comments about their passion for agriculture and involvement in various youth organizations: Rachael Harper, 4-H Teen Ambassador; Josie Allen, FFA District President; and Ashley Haskins, Chautauqua County Dairy Princess.

The evening’s delicious dinner featured locally grown products, celebrating Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County’s “Chautauqua Grown” Farm-to-Table directory (www.cce.cornell.edu/chautauqua). The meal was prepared by Robert Cross and his staff from 3-C’s Catering of Kennedy, NY.

The highlight of the evening was to honor local agricultural producers including: a legacy producer, a successful and innovative farm on their accomplishments and contributions to the industry and our local communities, and an individual who supports our local agricultural industry.

Congratulations to our 2018 Farmer Neighbor award recipients who were presented personalized engraved desk clocks: Legacy Producer – Frank L Walker, Falconer, retired dairy producer with lifelong involvement in various agricultural organizations; Agricultural Producer - Ormond Farm, LLC, located on Miller Valley Road in Kennedy, a third generation progressive dairy farm owned and operated by Tom Ormond, his son Lonny and daughter-in-law Robin Ormond. Friend of Agriculture – Andrew Dufresne, Bemus Point, longtime educator and supporter of agriculture in Chautauqua County.

Our guest speaker was Paul Trowbridge, from Genesee County, Retired farmer and author of

“A View From the Tractor Seat,” a humorous farm column where he shares what goes on at his family’s farm. Paul shared stories of his life on the farm that all could relate to, providing some laughter and fun to conclude the evening.

This Farmer Neighbor Dinner was organized by the following committee members: Lindsay Eckman, Farm Credit East, ACA; Debra Kelley and Cassie Pinkoski, Chautauqua County Soil & Water Conservation District; Ted Card, Chautauqua County Beef Producers and owner of Lakeview Gardens; Rhonda Lindquist, Western New York Crop Management Association; Glen Moss, Jr, Chautauqua County Farm Bureau; and Lisa Kempisty, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County.

A special thanks to the many farm families and agricultural businesses for their generous donations of local food products, door prizes, and financial support to help make this event a great success.

Locally made beverages were donated by:

Ellicottville Brewing Company, Fredonia and Bemus Point ; 5&20 Distillery and Brewery, Westfield; Merritt Winery, Forestville; Johnson Estate Winery, Westfield; Liberty Winery, Sheridan; Noble Winery, Westfield; 21 Brix Winery, Portland; Upstate Niagara Cooperative, Inc.; National Grape Cooperative; Welch’s; Jamestown Ice & Storage

Locally produced food donated by: 3 C’s Catering, Falconer; Good Grass Farm, Ashville;

Fred Farm, Dunkirk; Peterson Farms, Fluvanna; Redlecki & Son, Clymer; Panama Bee Farm & Honey Company; Abers Acres, Kennedy; Bit-O-Breeze Farm, Jamestown; Moon Meadow Farm, Jamestown;

Frontier Brook Farm - Moss Family, Conewango Valley; Willow Springs Farm - Nathan & Sarah Nickerson, Clymer; Chautauqua County Beef Producers; Kelley Farms, Portland; Richard Feinen Farms, Sheridan.

Sponsors of the event included: Premier- Shults Management Company; 3 C’s Catering; Chautauqua County Farm Bureau; Farm Credit East; Lakeview Gardens; The Grandview of Ellington. Platinum -GrapeView Dairy; Gramco, Inc.; Farm Family Insurance; Media One Group. Gold - The Dinner Bell;

Knight Vineyards LLC; Knight Operating Services LLC; WNY Crop Management Association; Redlecki & Son; Assemblyman Goodell; The Evans Agency; Seneca Trail RC&D Council; Panama Bee Farm & Honey Company. Silver - Gabel’s IBA; Eastern States Metal Roofing; Willow Creek Winery;

Troyer’s Greenhouse; The Vanstrom Homestead & Dairy; LandPro Equipment, LLC. Bronze – Abers Acres; Chautauqua County Beekeepers Association; Southern Tier Municipal Supply ; Webb’s - The Captain’s Table, Big Dipper Ice Cream Parlor; Reverie Creamery.

Thank you to all who attended for making the 2018 Farmer Neighbor Dinner a great success and we hope you can join us for next year’s program planned for August 2019.

The Agriculture Program is one of many programs offered by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County (CCE-Chautauqua) in line with the County’s 20/20 Comprehensive Plan. 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.

Last updated August 29, 2018