Photos by Tom Rivers – One of Marcus Miller’s Jersey cows is pictured at his farm on Thursday.

RIDGEWAY – Six weeks. That’s how long it would normally take to build a milking parlor, to put in the piping, the steel, the refrigeration system and all of the pieces.

That’s been Brent Snyder’s experience. He is the owner of Trapper Creek Enterprises in Attica, which installs milking systems.

Snyder and his team worked with Marcus Miller to put in a system in four days. Today Miller expects to milk his herd of 45 Jersey cows for the first time at his farm since a fire Jan. 6 destroyed his milking parlor.

“You’re not going to find somewhere else where there is a fire and 2 ½ weeks later you’re back milking,” Snyder said at Miller’s farm on Thursday afternoon.

Marcus Miller, left, and Brent Snyder are pictured inside the milking parlor on Thursday. The parlor needs hoses, and some finishing touches. Miller expects he’ll be milking his cows at the site today.

Miller is close to being back in business. On Thursday afternoon, he was waiting on some rubber hoses and the inflations used on the milking units.

He’s been working at a frenetic pace since his milking parlor was destroyed in the fire. Miller and the Amish community torn down that parlor on Jan. 6. Within a few days a new building was erected – the same size at 42 by 70 feet.

Miller, 34, needed milking equipment. He went to a farm in Barker that was no longer milking cows. Miller and his friends used some of that equipment and he bought some new pieces to create a working Swing 10 Paraket Stall milking parlor. Miller will be able to milk 10 cows at a time on each side of the parlor.

He is a member of the Upstate Niagara Cooperative. Officials from the cooperative will be at Miller’s farm this morning, testing his rebuilt system.

Some of Marcus Miller’s Jersey herd has remained at his farm on Fruit Avenue. His milking cows were moved down the road while Miller’s parlor was rebuilt. This picture was taken on Thursday afternoon.

Here is how the site looked on Jan. 7, a day after the fire.

Miller’s neighbor on Fruit Avenue, Jim Smith, has been milking Miller’s cows since the fire. Smith, a dairy farmer, is not Amish.

Miller said many of his neighbors have pitched in to help him get his farm going. He estimated about 60 different people have helped rebuild the milking parlor and get the farm back on-line.

“It’s not what I have done,” Miller said. “It’s what everyone else has done.”

Cows tend to be creatures of habit. Miller is looking forward to getting them back at his farm and settled into a schedule.

“They’re ready to come home,” Miller said. “They like a routine and I’m ready to get back into a routine, too.”

Photos by Tom Rivers
LYNDONVILLE – It was perfect weather for Leonard Oakes Estate Winery this morning. Temperatures were in the single digits. The wind was sweeping across the orchard.

Nate Hodgins (top) was one of the 14 people out in the cold for about four hours this morning to harvest the frozen Vidal grapes.

Jerod Thurber, events coordinator for Leonard Oakes, was out harvesting grapes this morning.

Ice wine is a popular dessert wine. The frozen fruit will be pressed several times and a drop from those grapes has a high concentration of acid, giving it double the sweetness of regular wine.

“It’s hyper-sweetened in a beautiful drop of juice,” Thurber said.

The winery puts nets around the vines to protect the fruit from birds and animals. The nets also help on harvest day. The crew knocks the grapes loose, and they opens the bottom of the nets, filling lugs with about 25 pounds of the fruit.

Not too many regions work for producing ice wine. It can’t get too cold where the vines won’t survive, and it needs to get to at least 18 degrees for four hours.

Leonard Oakes has already won state and national awards for its ice wine.

Nick Venditti, a New York City native, helped Leonard Oakes with the harvest this morning. Venditti used to be a wine salesman in the Big Apple, and he sold Leonard Oakes wine in the city.

He now works for Leonard Oakes. Venditti, 27, helped with the last frozen grape harvest two years ago. He has learned to buddle up with thick gloves and a sky mask.

Jonathan Oakes, the winemaker at Leonard Oakes, is interviewed in the vineyard by Channel 2 in Buffalo.

Chris Oakes, the orchard manager, drives a tractor with a load of frozen Vidal grapes.

Three state legislators that represent Orleans County in Albany were all recognized by New York Farm Bureau in the organization’s “Circle of Friends.”

State Assembly members Steve Hawley of Batavia and Jane Corwin of Clarence were both named to the list, as was State Sen. George Maziarz of Newfane. Maziarz’s 3-county district includes all of Orleans. Hawley’s district has all of Orleans, except the Town of Shelby, which is in Corwin’s district.

Altogether, 125 of the 212 state legislators were named friends by Farm Bureau. The “Circle of Friends” honor is based upon each legislator’s voting record on issues of agricultural importance as well as other evidence of legislative support, including sponsorship of bills that New York Farm Bureau has either supported or opposed during the most recent legislative session.

“The selected lawmakers from both the Assembly and Senate were chosen for their commitment to the hard working farm families in New York,” said Dean Norton, president of NYFB. “Each friend has demonstrated that they understand the importance of agriculture to the people of their legislative district, and how farming significantly impacts the economy of this great state.”

Hawley, former president of the Genesee County Farm Bureau, said he appreciated the recognition from Farm Bureau.

“My district in Western New York contains many farms and many families in my area sell crops as a primary or secondary source of income,” Hawley said. “It is of the utmost importance to me that we support legislation that will enhance farmers’ abilities to expand their businesses and sell their products on a wider scale. Farms remain a driving force in New York State and a facet of our economy that we cannot take for granted.”

Photos by Tom Rivers

SHELBY – Walter Zelazny & Sons farm in Medina was out harvesting corn late this afternoon in this field at the corner of Route 63 and Fletcher Chapel Road.

The U.S. is forecasting a record high corn crop this year at 14.4 billion bushels. The cold snap pushed up the price slightly to $3.86 a bushel.

Pete Dragan worked the fields locally for 75 years

Photo by Tom Rivers – This sign was erected last week on Route 98, just south of the village of Albion. It is in honor of Pete Dragan, who owned Dragan Farm for more than 75 years. Dragan died at age 96 on Aug. 7, 2012.

ALBION – Pete Dragan used to joke with his employees that they were attending Dragan College, learning to fix machinery, plant and harvest crops, and get along with other people.

Dragan was a prominent local farmer for about 75 years. He grew soybeans and corn. He died at age 96 on Aug. 7, 2012.

His employees haven’t forgotten Dragan. They put up a sign last week that says, “Dragan College.” The sign is along Route 98, just south of the Village of Albion.

“Pete was a well-known man for starting new things,” said long-time employee Danny Wright.

If a Dragan employee or former worker needed a reference for a job, Dragan told them to put on their application that they went to Dragan College. It was a tongue-in-cheek expression that he repeated often.

Dragan’s daughter Diana Dragan Reed and the farm’s employees decided they wanted to honor Pete with a sign. Dennis Button made the sign and Jim Babcock made the supports. The sign went up last week, and it has lots of people talking about Dragan, who was once a frequent sight in the community with his white farm cars.

“I’m so thrilled that it’s been executed,” Dragan Reed said about the sign. “I thought it would be a great tribute to him.”

She lives in central Florida and has been helping with some of the farm administration. Dragan Farm is in the process of being acquired by two long-time Dragan employees, Steven Swiercznski and his cousin Tod Swiercznski. The sign is great tribute to her father, but she knows he would be most pleased the farm will continue and will keep the Dragan name.

“My father had farming in his blood,” Dragan Reed said. “He wanted to carry on the farm for his employees.”

Dragan Farm works nearly 2,000 acres of wheat and soybeans. It put up a new drying bin this year.

Dragan was active with the farm even at age 96, communicating with employees from his cell phone while he was in the hospital, his daughter said.

“He was talking until the very end, wanting to know what was going on with the farm,” she said. “His mind was very clear.”

CCE seeks renovations to Trolley Building, other improvements

File photo by Tom Rivers – In this photo from July 2013, Noah Preston of Barre hoses down livestock at the wash rack. The Cooperative Extension wants to upgrade the wash rack as part of a series of improvements at the fairgrounds.

Press Release
Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension

KNOWLESVILLE – The Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension has announced a new Legacy Capital Campaign. The campaign identifies several critical improvements needed at the Orleans County Fairgrounds to continue the Extension’s long-standing tradition of education and community service.

These projects include extensive renovation to the Trolley Building that will feature an updated kitchen, installing a new floor in the Wachob Building, replacing a wash rack by the Cattle Barn, purchasing a generator, and paying the debt on a new finish mower.

The legacies of past generations are featured by the campaign as a reminder that Orleans County residents are pretty amazing. For example, Harold “Mike” Trolley, for which the Trolley Building is named, led the purchase and development of the present day fairgrounds, creating a legacy for the 4-H Fair.

Later, in 1968, Paul Klatt began a walk-a-thon that spanned over three decades and raised thousands of dollars for fairgrounds improvements, building a legacy of tradition and service. Then Corkey Van Den Bosch served as baker for the 1977 world’s largest pie, leaving a legacy of ingenuity and community pride. To this day, residents visit the fairgrounds, often with children, to see the famous pie pan.

Orleans Extension seeks to honor those who have made a difference in Orleans County by continuing their efforts to build a legacy of improving people’s lives. The Board of Directors will meet with committee leaders this month as part of their strategic planning efforts to identify how to best serve more people, expand high quality educational opportunities, further youth development and leadership, and increase volunteer engagement to develop goals for Extension 2020.

Long-term plans for the 4-H food stands are also a topic for discussion as the initial community center proposal has transitioned to a Trolley Building expansion due to costs and maintenance constraints.

While many volunteers are optimistic about the future, they acknowledge improvement will take a great deal of hard work and collaboration. However, the outcomes far outweigh the costs. As Board President, Ed Neal, noted, “Even if the 4-H fair only makes a difference in the life of one kid, it is worth it.” Given 4-H’s enrollment is at about 350 youth and 70 volunteers, Orleans Extension is making a tremendous impact, and the Legacy Capital Campaign will allow this impact to continue long into the future.

The first campaign contribution received was $1,400 toward the Wachob Building project. The Board of Directors will provide an update on the campaign’s progress and the proposed projects at the OCCCE annual meeting on Dec. 2. The event will begin at 6:30 pm in the Trolley Building at the Fairgrounds.

All county residents are welcome to attend the annual meeting, enjoy dinner, and participate in voting for new board members, approving a constitutional amendment, and recognizing the exemplary service of OCCCE volunteers. Dinner tickets are $15 each and RSVPs can be made through the Extension office at 585-798-4265 or orleans@cornell.edu.

Photos by Tom Rivers – Dennis Stymus looks over his display of vegetables on Saturday at the Orleans County Farmers Market, which is in its final week of the season this week.

ALBION – A farmers market will conclude its 10th season this week with a show of appreciation for the loyal customers.

The Orleans County Farmers Market has been setting up in Albion on Saturday morning for 10 years. The market also has been in Medina for eight years.

“Even if the weather is bad we have a very broad customer base,” said Ann Nice of Nice Farms, who also serves as market coordinator, planning some special events during the season.

The Orleans County Farmers Market meets on Thursdays from noon to 5 p.m. in the Erie Canal Basin off East Center Street and on Saturdays in Albion from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Save-A-Lot parking lot, 320 West Ave.

Jerome Pawlak, owner of Save-A-Lot, said the market has been an asset for the community.

“They have a nice selection of product and they’re good neighbors,” he said. “They definitely have a following here.”

Leonard Oakes Estate Winery in Medina will offer wine tastings at the market on Thursday. Nice Farms also will offer samples of different types of fruit.

Ken and Ann Nice of Knowlesville have been with the market since it started in Albion.

Nice Farms and Stymus Farms also plan to donate produce to food kitchens in Medina and Albion following the market days this week. The vendors at the two sites are collecting nonperishable donations from the public that will be given to local food pantries.

The market has been a boost for Dennis Stymus. He has expanded his operation in Barre. He has seven greenhouses along Maple Avenue. Stymus also goes to markets in Williamsville and Batavia, and many of his market customers also come to the farm stand by the home farm in Barre.

“It’s close to home,” he said about the markets in Albion and Medina. “This is our base.”

Like Sytmus, Nice Farms has grown its market presence since joining the sites in Albion and Medina. Ann and Ken Nice’s daughter-in-law Jennifer goes to Le Roy and two markets in Batavia. Many of those customers also come to Nice Farms’ stand in Knowlesville.

There are three vendors currently at the Albion and Medina markets, with Renko’s Meat Processing of Kendall joining Nice and Stymus.

“It’s taken a few years but we’ve been able to build up our base for a nice small-town market,” Nice said.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The American Farm Bureau Federation has named Congressman Chris Collins a “Friend of Farm Bureau.”

The award is given to individuals who have supported Farm Bureau issues, as demonstrated by their voting records, and who were nominated by their respective state’s Farm Bureau.

“The Friend of Farm Bureau honor recognizes Rep. Chris Collins’ voting record on American Farm Bureau Federation’s priority issues in Congress,” said Dean Norton, New York Farm Bureau president. “His support for the Farm Bill and his outstanding efforts to protect family farms from the overregulation of the Clean Water Act are much appreciated. New York Farm Bureau would like to congratulate Rep. Collins for receiving this award and thank him for his hard work on behalf of the state’s family farms.”

Collins led a fight against an Environmental Protection Agency proposal for waterway rule changes that would have increased the costs of business for farmers.

“I recognize the struggles farmers face,” Collins said. “The last thing they need is unnecessary and excessive government regulations, which is why I will continue to provide farmers the necessary support and protection needed to grow their businesses.”