Provided photos – Warren Kruger (operating backhoe) works with Jim Blackburn (left) and Jim’s father Gary Blackburn in upgrading the pavilion at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds.
Press Release, Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension
KNOWLESVILLE – For many, the Curtis Pavilion along the creek at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds includes memories of friends, family, and smells of chicken dinners cooked over an open flame during the annual county fair.
The Thursday evening fair tradition is a homecoming event for many, and fairgrounds Property Committee members, Gary Blackburn and Vince Flow III and the father-son team of Warren and Stephen Kruger, have worked throughout the year to preserve the pavilion that was built in 1973 for future generations.
They received support from Oak Orchard Concrete of Medina, which donated the concrete to stabilize the poles. The Town of Kendall also provided use of a backhoe to the fairgrounds for excavating the soil surrounding the poles.
The team coordinated their schedule to ensure they did not interrupt events at the fairgrounds and would meet in the late afternoon and work through the evening hours.
Work on the main structure is nearing completion and there are plans to continue with stage improvements next year. Warren, Stephen, and Oak Orchard Concrete will be presented with the Friend of Extension award at Extension’s annual meeting on Dec. 1 in recognition of their efforts.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 October 2015 at 12:00 am
Not quite a bumper crop in 2015
Photos by Tom Rivers – This photo shows an apple in an orchard on East State Street near the Butts Road intersection in Albion.
Local apple growers say the weather for the harvest season has been ideal for picking and packing the fruit.
New York is the country’s second-leading apple growing state, behind only Washington State. In a big year, NY will harvest 30 million bushels or boxes of apples. This year, the crop is expected at 26 to 27 million bushels. A frost over Memorial Day weekend damaged some of the buds and blossoms, taking a chunk out of this year’s crop.
“We are the second-largest apple growing state in the nation, so apple fans don’t have to look any further for great apples,” said Jim Allen, president of the NY Apple Association. “They will be glad they did, because closer means fresher, more flavorful apples.”
This photo shows a bin of apples at Excelsior Farms in Point Breeze.
Orleans County is NY’s second biggest apple producing county, behind Wayne County.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 October 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Rae Kwon Riley, an Albion third-grader, paints a pumpkin today in the high school ag shop.
He is one of about 700 elementary students who are enjoying a fall festival through the FFA this week.
FFA students spent a few hours on Saturday picking about 800 pumpkins from Panek’s for the festival.
Jayden Lewis gives his pumpkin a personal touch. Jayden and Rae Kwon are both in Kelly Robbins’ class.
Here are some of the painted pumpkins by elementary kids. The Fall Festival will continue on Wednesday, with more students painting pumpkins and trying other stations.
FFA member Ellen Narburgh slices apples, and Dylan Sherman, center, and Nick Calkins provide some muscle with an old-fashioned cider press.
The Albion FFA is one of the oldest chapters in the state, dating back to 1927.
Photo by Tom Rivers – This file photo from April 2014 shows a flooded field along Presbyterian Road.
The state is making $1.4 million available in a pilot program for “Climate Resilient Farming,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced.
The funds will support projects that mitigate the environmental impact of agriculture-related activities and increase the resiliency of farms throughout New York State in the face of a changing climate.
“New York State is a leader and national model when it comes to dealing with the effects of climate change and this funding further strengthens that standing,” Cuomo said. “This first-ever grant program addresses the need to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of farms, while also enhancing the ability of those farms to recover after severe weather events which have become an all too frequent reality.”
The funding is being made available to agricultural projects which develop and implement best management practices to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and carbon sequestration. Additionally, funding is available to projects that help agricultural producers prepare for and better manage the impacts of climate change like increased heavy rain storm events and periods of drought.
County Soil and Water Conservation Districts will apply for the competitive grants on behalf of farmers. Applications must be submitted for one of the following project categories: agricultural waste storage cover and flare systems; on-farm riparian, floodplain, and upland water management systems; and soil health systems.
Funding for the Climate Resilient Farming grant program comes from the 2015-2016 New York State Environmental Protection Fund and is administered by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.
“The Soil and Water Conservation Committee is proud to work with our partners, including the Department of Agriculture and Markets, Cornell University, Soil and Water Conservation Districts, and most importantly farmers to build on the strengths of our Agricultural Environmental Management framework to enhance resiliency and reduce emissions on farms across New York State,” said Le Roy dairy farmer Dale Stein, chairman of the New York State Soil and Water Conservation Committee.
Applicants for the Climate Resilient Farming grant program must submit their proposals by 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 14. For more information, click here.
“As large agricultural producers, we must also be mindful of our environmental footprint, and this funding will help our state’s farms develop procedures which reduce detrimental environmental impact without damaging the farms’ ability to grow produce and livestock,” said State Assemblyman Steve Hawley, R-Batavia. “This is a victory for our environment, as well as farmers who could use increased funding to protect their livelihoods from flooding and drought.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 October 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Fourth-graders harvested squash this morning, filling two big bins at the Albion FFA Land Lab along Clarendon Road.
FFA students planted the squash last June and today it was picked from the field. It will be give to Community Action of Orleans & Genesee, which will use some for its food pantry and also for holiday baskets. Some squash will also be shared with other food pantries in the community, said Andy Ebbs, the facilities manager for Community Action.
Jack Kinter holds a squash he picked from a field. Students didn’t mind a little mud.
Albion FFA students planted the squash last June and helped direct the students during today’s harvest. This trio of FFA students includes, from left: Rylie Lear, FFA President Vivian Rivers, and Alexis Bentley.
Brian Postle, right, joins his fourth grade classmates in today’s squash harvest.
Another student is happy to help with the harvest.
The FFA also grew gourds that will be shared with teachers for a fall festival celebration. Students also grew pumpkins that will be sold at Panek’s Pumpkin Patch with proceeds donated for breast cancer awareness and research.
By Kristina Gabalski, Correspondent Posted 8 October 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Kristina Gabalski
KNOWLESVLLE – Orleans County 4-H’ers and 4-H Educator Robert Batt (at the hood) work to put the finishing touches on a car being washed as part of a 4-H Open House held Wednesday.
October 4-10 marks National 4-H Week and locally Orleans County 4-H held an open house outside the Education Building on the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds to celebrate.
Free car washes were provided by 4-Hers for volunteers; non-volunteers could also participate for a goodwill donation. Popcorn was provided as part of the event and there were free T-shirts and other surprises for those who stopped in.
Orleans County 4-H Rabbit Raiser Joan-Marie Gabalski sprays a car being washed during open house on Wednesday at the fairgrounds.
One family traveled from Kendall during the festivities to sign up for 4-H. As of Wednesday, six new families joined during 4-H Week. A newly formed goat club with seven members held its first meeting this week, Batt said.
Current enrollment in Orleans County 4-H now stands at 442.
Members of the Orleans County 4-H Rabbit Raisers club participate in a car wash Wednesday morning as part of National 4-H Week.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 October 2015 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers
GAINES – These bins are filled with apples on Route 279, just south of Route 104. The farm is owned by Jim Kirby and his son Adam.
After some chilly days last week, the high temperatures will be in the 60s this week. Today is forecast to be mostly cloudy with a high of 65, followed by mostly cloudy with a high of 64 on Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service in Buffalo.
On Wednesday, it will be sunny with a high of 65, followed by mostly sunny with a high of 61 on Thursday.
Staff Reports Posted 29 September 2015 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers – Bernie Heberle, manager and co-owner of Circle R Fruit Farms in Carlton, holds a deformed apple due to a frost on Memorial Day weekend. Heberle said some of the local apple crop was harmed by the frost, with more damage the farther away from Lake Ontario. Heberle said the deformed apples taste fine, but can’t be sold on the fresh market because of their appearance.
Farmers in Orleans, Genesee, Niagara and Wyoming counties have been declared eligible for disaster emergency loan assistance, effective Sept. 9, due to damages and losses caused by excessive rain, high winds, hail, lightning and a tornado, which occurred between May 1 and July 14.
Family farmers who have suffered physical and production losses due to excessive rain, high winds, hail, lightning, and a tornado may be eligible for loans through the Farm Service Agency.
Proceeds from crop insurance and any FSA programs are taken into account when determining eligibility for physical losses, the FSA said in a news release.
Losses must be supported with documented records. Under the FSA Emergency Loan Programs, farmers may be eligible for production and physical loss loans of up to 100 percent of their actual losses, or the operating loan amount needed to continue in business, or a maximum principal balance outstanding of $500,000, whichever is less.
Farmers must be unable to obtain credit from private commercial lenders. The interest rate on emergency loans is 3.625 percent.
Application for loans under this emergency designation will be accepted until May 9, 2016. The FSA office in Albion is located at 446 West Ave. The office’s phone number is (585) 589-5320.
By Kristina Gabalski, Correspondent Posted 27 September 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Kristina Gabalski – Members of the Wong family of Brockport – mom, Chelsea; dad, Bently, four-year old Caleb (in red) and two-year old Aaron – enjoy feeding the alpacas at Genna-rations Farm in Kendall on Saturday.
KENDALL – A perfect early autumn day brought many people out to enjoy the weather and the alpacas during the 8th Annual National Alpaca Farms Days being held this weekend.
Both Genna-rations Farm on West Kendall Road in Kendall and Stoney Meadows Alpacas on Glidden Road in Holley took part in the Alpaca Country Trail, which also includes SanGer-La Alpacas on Colby Street in Brockport and Northwoods Alpacas on North Lake Road in Bergen.
The event gives participants and opportunity to see, feel and feed alpacas and learn more about the breeding of the animals for their high-quality fiber. Participating farms offer demonstrations, fiber crafting and the opportunity to purchase alpaca products.
Theresa Jewell of Stoney Meadows Alpacas in Holley demonstrates weaving Saturday morning at her farm along the Alpaca Country Trail.
Theresa Jewell of Stoney Meadows Alpacas in Holley said the annual event is significant for local alpaca breeders and fiber producers.
“This is when local people … people in our county, our neighbors, get to see what we are doing,” she explains and says she really enjoys participating in the trail. Her farm includes a mix of fiber producing animals including Angora rabbits and goats and sheep in addition to alpacas.
Six-year old Anna Salcido of Hamlin enjoys the alpacas and the finger puppet she purchased at Genna-rations Farm in Kendall on Saturday. She and her mom were touring local alpaca farms along the Alpaca Country Trail, part of the 8th Annual National Alpaca Farm Days.
Crystal Zayac, 18, and her 7-year old brother, Joshua, of Albion enjoy meeting the Angora goats at Stoney Meadows Alpacas in Holley.
Alpacas and sheep graze in the pasture at Stoney Meadows Alpacas and Fiber Boutique in Holley. The alpaca trail event runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday.
Visitors enjoy alpacas, refreshments and shopping at Genna-rations Farm, owned by John and Tacha Gennarino, in Kendall.
A week-and-a-half old baby alpaca, called a cria, enjoys the sunshine at Genna-rations Farm in Kendall on Saturday morning. The farm is taking part this weekend in the annual Alpaca Country Trail.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 September 2015 at 12:00 am
Provided photo – A Scottsville farm this weekend will open this antique grain bin with a slide to the public. For many years, the attraction was part of Brown’s Berry Patch in Waterport.
Stokoe Farms in Scottsville this weekend will debut the antique grain bin that was part of Brown’s Berry Patch in Waterport for many years.
Brown’s Berry Patch closed the retail portion of the business after more than three decades of running one of the most popular agri-tourism spots in the region.
Suzanne Stokoe was saddened to hear that the owners at Brown’s Berry Patch were retiring and closing the retail side of the business after last year. The Brown family continues to grow fruit.
Stokoe said the Brown family is a pioneer in the local farming and agri-tainment community, and have brought thousands of smiles to the faces of kids and adults alike over the years.
“Stokoe Farms is privileged to have been able to purchase and transport the attraction from Farmer Brown’s to Scottsville, so its guests can continue to get years of enjoyment out of it,” Stokoe said in a news release.
In addition to the antique grain bin, Stokoe has the cargo net climb and slide from Brown’s.
Stokoe Farms operates a pumpkin patch and Christmas tree farm on South Road. The farm has zip lines, bounce pillows, a picture maze, nature trail, farm animals, and other activities.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 23 September 2015 at 12:00 am
Chamber Agricultural Business of the Year: Circle R Fruit Farms
Photos by Tom Rivers – Bernie Heberle, general manager and co-owner of Circle R Fruit Farms, checks on some SnapDragon apples in an orchard along Route 18 in Carlton. Heberle joined Circle R in 1998 and has helped boost production and quality.
CARLTON – In 1991, after about 30 years of growing vegetables, Lynn Roberts decided to make a big push into fruit.
There were about 250 acres of fruit up for auction, and Roberts bought the land, establishing Circle R Fruit Farms.
Circle R has grown to 554 acres. It is one of the biggest local fruit operations, producing 450,000 bushels of apples a year. (State-wide, there are about 25 to 30 million bushels of apples to be harvested each year.)
The Chamber of Commerce has recognized Circle R as the “Agricultural Business of the Year.”
Circle R added this farm market with ice cream five years ago along Route 18. Nearly all of the produce is from Circle R or the Roberts vegetable farm, Lynn-Ette and Sons.
Circle R has planted new popular varieties, such as Honeycrisp and SnapDragon, in high density orchards. Bernie Heberle joined Circle R in 1998. As general manager and co-owner, he has pushed for high-quality produce.
He also oversees the Circle R farm market on Route 18, just west of Lakeside Beach State Park. That started as two wagons by the road 14 years ago. Heberle put out 75 quarts of strawberries with people paying on the honor system, leaving cash in a locked box.
Five years ago, Circle R put up a farm market to better display fruits and vegetables from the farm. The site also sells lots of ice cream. Heberle says the market continues to see big growth in business each year. It has helped fill some of the void with closing of Brown’s Berry Patch’s retail site this year.
“This year there has been an incredible amount of business,” Heberle said.
The farm market is a popular spot in Carlton for people looking for ice cream, fruits and vegetables.
Heberle arrives at the market early, often by 6 a.m. and likes to get displays of fruit and vegetables ready. He enjoys the quiet before the workday gets busy around 8 a.m.
Circle R has 80 workers harvesting apples and fruit. Heberle directs them. He admires their work ethic and commitment to excellence. The workers are from Mexico and Jamaica.
Looking into the future, Heberle said the country’s unresolved immigration policies threaten agriculture, especially operations that are labor intensive. Circle R has 80 workers through the H2A program, which allows temporary legal workers for seasonal farm labor.
Heberle said the program is expensive, with lots of paperwork and often the workers are delayed in their arrival due to the government bureaucracy.
“I love working with my help,” Heberle said. “But I worry about the future. Americans don’t want to do these jobs.”
Heberle is pictured in a high-density orchard, where trees are planted close together.
When Heberle joined Circle R, the orchards were planted with about 90 to 120 trees per acre. The trees were tall and a bit ungangly with long branches projecting in wild directions.
Most of those trees are gone, replaced with shorter trees, planted close together in high-density orchards. The trees are easier to pick from (workers don’t have to spend much time high on ladders). The trees bear fruit quicker after being planted. And the total output per acre, with up to 1,400 trees, is far more than a generation ago.
The high-density orchards should allow Circle R to reach 500,000 bushels of apples annually, Heberle said.
Photo courtesy of Roberts family – Lynn Roberts is pictured about two years ago at Circle R Fruit Farm with his son Darren Roberts, center, Bernie Heberle, manager of Circle R.
The Chamber, in recognizing Circle R, praised the farm “for producing exceptional local produce to Orleans County and beyond.”
Heberle credits Lynn Roberts, patriarch of the farm, for diversifying into fruit, and for pushing for superior produce.
“I owe a lot of Lynn Roberts,” Heberle said. “He took me in as a son.”
Mr. Roberts was 80 when he died on June 13. Heberle accepted the Chamber award on behalf on Lynn, and has placed the award in Lynn’s office at the farm.
Staff Reports Posted 21 September 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Cheryl Wertman
SOMERSET – Cheryl Wertman visited Somerset just across the Orleans County line on Sunday for the community’s Old Fashioned Farm Festival on Route 18. The Somerset Historical Society puts on the celebration.
The top photo shows a pair of horses pulling a corn picker as they harvested the crop that was grown on the town farm land.
Here are some other snapshots from the event:
The antique car show attracted this line of Ford trucks.
This covered wagon from the mid 1800’s originally was a grain box wagon used to travel from Virginia to Iowa.
This is a Huber Super 4 tractor from 1921.
The Farm Festival brings out the best in antique tractors of all shapes, sizes, years and colors.
These antique engines ranged anywhere from use in lawnmowers to heavy farm machinery and still run in top form today.
This is a female Hereford Hog that was one of several farm animals at the festival for the kids to enjoy. This pig can be as heavy as 250 pounds in six months.
This pair of horses pulled the wagon that picked up the cut corn and brought it in to be chopped by an antique chopper.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 September 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
SHELBY – The roadside stand by Root Brothers Farm on Route 31A has several vegetables to choose from that are fresh from the field. Local farmers will have nice weather the next few days for bringing in their crops.
It won’t be 80-plus degrees like last week, but there will be lots of sunshine this week in the forecast.
The National Weather Service in Buffalo is forecasting a sunny Sunday with a high of 65 today, followed by a high of 68 on a sunny Monday. Tuesday is forecast to be mostly sunny with a high of 72, followed by a high of 73 on a sunny Wednesday.
A field of corn is next to a fence at Forrestel Farm in Shelby in this photo taken on Saturday.
By Kristina Gabalski, Correspondent Posted 7 September 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Kristina Gabalski
SYRACUSE – Several local 4-H members and exhibitors are part of the New York Stat Fair in Syracuse. Kristina Gabalski visited the fairgrounds on Saturday.
The top photo shows Orleans County 4-H Rabbit Raiser Club member Will Gregoire of Murray waiting next to his Jersey Wooly Rabbit, Harvey, during judging at the 4-H Rabbit Show at the State Fair.
New York’s agriculture industry was featured on one side of this year’s sand sculpture in the Center of Progress Building at the State Fair. The other three sides feature famous New York politicians, the Adirondack Railroad and Babe Ruth.
Yes, they are real – two human models sport the NY State Fair logo and pose near the entrance of the State Fair.
A turquoise crocheted dress by Karen Will of Albion (on left) is displayed as part of the “County Fair Exhibit” in the Arts and Crafts section of the Home & Art Center at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse. Items in the display are considered the “Best of Show” from county fairs across the State. Will’s dress was selected from among the entries in the Trolley Building at the Orleans County 4-H Fair.
Orleans County 4-H Rabbit Raiser Amelia Sidonio of Holley poses with her mini-rex rabbits following judging of the breed during the 4-H Rabbit Show.
Barb and Vince Flow of Flow’s Willow Farm, LLC, Norway Road in Holley sell their gourmet garlic and garlic products in the “Taste of New York” tent at the New York State Fairgrounds.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 September 2015 at 12:00 am
Editorial – $100K donation, 200th anniversary of farm and several other jobs well done
Good deeds and major milestones deserve some recognition, so let’s consider a few recent examples in Orleans County.
Maurice Hoag and his wife Courtenay gave another $100,000 to Hoag Library. They had already given $250,000 to the new library, which opened in 2012. That was enough to have the building named in their honor.
Mr. Hoag, the valedictorian of Albion’s Class of 1961, worked in the chemical engineering field. He lives in the Baltimore area but comes back to Albion for class reunions.
Photos by Tom Rivers – A plaque at Hoag Library notes the contributions from Maurice and Courtenay Hoag.
In July, the library received a surprise check from the Hoags. They asked that the money be used to pay down the mortgage on the new library.
That will reduce the debt payments and get the building paid off sooner. It could free up funds for programs, staff and supplies, or reduce the library tax.
The Hoags also pay for generous scholarships for two Albion college students pursuing chemical engineering.
Mr. Hoag hasn’t forgotten his hometown. His gifts are appreciated.
George LaMont (right), a desendant of Josias LaMont, unveils a historical marker in honor of the man who started the LaMont farm in 1815. About 200 people attended a celebration on Aug. 15 for the farm.
A local family celebrated 200 years of growing fruit last month. Josias LaMont started the farm that would span six generations.
Roger and George LaMont are both semi-retired from farming. They have made a big impact on the industry and with many local causes.
Roger was co-chairman of the fund-raising effort for the new Hoah Library. George was instrumental in starting the Oak Orchard Community Health Center, which has expanded from care for migrant workers to the entire community. Both men have been key leaders in the apple industry.
They helped establish Lake Ridge Fruit Company, an apple packing and storage business that serves many local apple farms on Route 104 in Gaines. Roger helped organize growers in a partnership with Cornell to breed new apple varieties and make them available to only NY growers, giving New York farmers an advantage over growers from Washington.
The family has done so much for the industry a future apple variety should be named the LaMont.
Matt Ballard, former director of the Cobblestone Musuem, is pictured with a World War I exhibit he helped organize.
Matt Ballard served as director of the Cobblestone Museum for about 18 months. He was a key leader at Orleans County’s only National Historic Landmark, putting on professional exhibits about medicine in the 1800s and the local involvement with World War I.
Ballard resigned last month to take a full-time position with Roberts Wesleyan College. He will continue to work part-time as the Orleans County historian.
Ballard is only 27 and brings a passion and expertise to local history. He certainly raised the profile of the Cobblestone Museum in the community and region, and partnered with several local groups on heritage projects, including refurbishing a fox “stuffed” by legendary taxidermist Carl Akeley, a Clarendon native. The museum owns a fox that Akeley worked on when he was 16.
Ballard feels so committed to the Cobblestone Museum he has agreed to stay on in a volunteer role as a board member. He has proven an asset to the county, especially with preserving and promoting our proud heritage.
This statue of Mary is part of the Catholic parish in Holley.
A church in Holley is marking its 150th anniversary in the next 12 months. St. Mary’s Catholic Church has been a focal point in Holley since 1866. The parish has one of its biggest community events on Sunday with the annual St. Rocco’s Festival in Hulberton.
The church members have been good stewards of a church built in 1905 of Medina sandstone. It replaced an earlier wooden structure. The congregation also has had an infusion of young families in recent years with the leadership of Father Mark Noonan, the parish priest. It looks like the parish will stay strong for years to come.
Gary Withey tends to a customer during the final days of Fischer’s News Stand.
Many Albionites are sad to see a long-established business close. Fischer’s News Stand sold its last newspaper, magazine and Lotto ticket on Sunday.
Gary Withey and his late wife Denise became owners of the business in January 1995. They kept it going long after news stands in other much larger communities shut down.
