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Chatham hosts town-wide farm tours
  
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By Paul Crossman
Hudson-Catskill Newspapers
CHATHAM — The town held its first “Chatham Keep Farming Harvest Farm Tour,” Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., with seven farms participating.
Despite the poor weather, the farms reported a relatively good turn out, some with over 50 people taking guided tours. Each farm provided different tours and activities for community members, spanning sheep milking, to horse riding drill teams.
“I think [open farm day] is fabulous,” tour-taker Jeanne Cox said. “I’m here from Houston. I think it’s wonderful, and we really appreciate all the hospitality.”
This sentiment was echoed by the rest of her family, including two from the New York City, as they walked through the facilities at the Old Chatham Sheepherding Company, their fourth farm of the day.
Kinderhook Farm in Ghent, which has operations spreading through both the Ghent and Chatham area, had activities to teach people about raising grass-fed black angus for beef, and free-range chickens, as well as a store that showcased and sold their merchandise.
Staron Farm in Chatham offered visitors a behind-the-scenes look at a local farm stand, and the largest potato growing operation in the county. The farm stand was also open throughout the day, offering fresh harvest goods for sale to anyone interested.
Ooms Farm in Chatham Center is the largest dairy operation in Chatham, and a multi-generational dairy farm which has been in business for over 50 years. The farm sells wholesale, and offered tours on every hour on the hour, as well as a view of the cows being milked.
The Old Chatham Sheepherding Company in Old Chatham is the largest dairy sheep operation in the country, and according to owner Tom Clark open farm day wasn’t much different from any other day on his farm. He said they typically get anywhere from 50 to 100 visitors a weekend.
“I think the purpose of the event is to develop a greater awareness of agriculture in Chatham and Columbia County,” said Clark, who is also a member of Chatham Keep Farming. “We’re tying to sensitize how important farming is to the entire community, and why it needs to be preserved.”
He went on to say that a good portion of the day’s visitors were young couples with their children, many of whom confessed to never having been on a farm before.
Spruce Ridge Farm in Old Chatham is an alpaca farm, which attracted visitors with tours of the baby alpacas — born this year — as well as a shop full of alpaca products and apparel.
“They’re nice,” said one visitor about the baby sheep, “but they’re definitely not as cute as the alpaca’s.”
Equine Advocates Safe Home Equine Rescue and Sanctuary in Chatham is a sprawling farm which provides a model for the humane treatment of horses of all different types and with different needs. Their mission, according to their website, is to educate people on how to properly care for, handle, and socialize horses. Tours of the sanctuary were offered throughout the day.
Another equine rescue organization on the tour was Little Brooke Farms in Old Chatham, hailed as one of the most diverse equine facilities in the nation. Established in 1977, Little Brooke strives to combine equine rescue with educational programs — including riding instruction — where they work with both community members and local schools.
“I think the farm tours were great,” said owner Lynn Cross. “I think people don’t have any idea what goes on farms in our area. It’s a good reality check to get people to go to a farm. We really love what we’re doing.”
Tours of the facility included several riding demos throughout the day, such as vaulting and drill teams, where people watched trained members of the farm show just how much the horses, and themselves, could really do.
Farm employee Christina Hinkel also stressed the importance not only of how the farm rescues horses which would otherwise be killed, but of how they use the animals and the farm experience to help encourage and teach local students from more than 80 different schools.
Cross agreed, adding that kid’s not only learn basic riding technique, but also skills that can be useful in all aspects of life, from coordination to mathematics.
Hinkel said that she’s seen such encouraging reactions working with students over the years that she decided to work with Questar in the creation of a class on the subject. Unfortunately, due to the tough economic times, there has not been enough funding available to start this year.
Regardless of the setback Hinkel is still looking forward to beginning the program as soon as she can.
“I’d really like to start one,” she said. “It would provide a lot of jobs.”
Overall, the day seemed to be a success for farms around the area, as they not only got a chance to teach people about what farming in Columbia County is all about, but to showcase their wares and products to local buyers as well.
“On a good weekend, we sell nearly $1,000 worth of products just in our cheese store,” said Tom Clark of the Sheepherding Company. Since Clark’s company continously encourages visitors, it seems to prove the importance of showcasing your products to local buyers.
“It’s really amazing how many visitors we get every weekend,” he said.
To reach reporter Paul Crossman call 518-828-1616, ext. 2266, or e-mail pcrossman@registerstar.com. To comment directly on this story, visit our website at www.registerstar.com.
Despite the poor weather, the farms reported a relatively good turn out, some with over 50 people taking guided tours. Each farm provided different tours and activities for community members, spanning sheep milking, to horse riding drill teams.
“I think [open farm day] is fabulous,” tour-taker Jeanne Cox said. “I’m here from Houston. I think it’s wonderful, and we really appreciate all the hospitality.”
This sentiment was echoed by the rest of her family, including two from the New York City, as they walked through the facilities at the Old Chatham Sheepherding Company, their fourth farm of the day.
Kinderhook Farm in Ghent, which has operations spreading through both the Ghent and Chatham area, had activities to teach people about raising grass-fed black angus for beef, and free-range chickens, as well as a store that showcased and sold their merchandise.
Staron Farm in Chatham offered visitors a behind-the-scenes look at a local farm stand, and the largest potato growing operation in the county. The farm stand was also open throughout the day, offering fresh harvest goods for sale to anyone interested.
Ooms Farm in Chatham Center is the largest dairy operation in Chatham, and a multi-generational dairy farm which has been in business for over 50 years. The farm sells wholesale, and offered tours on every hour on the hour, as well as a view of the cows being milked.
The Old Chatham Sheepherding Company in Old Chatham is the largest dairy sheep operation in the country, and according to owner Tom Clark open farm day wasn’t much different from any other day on his farm. He said they typically get anywhere from 50 to 100 visitors a weekend.
“I think the purpose of the event is to develop a greater awareness of agriculture in Chatham and Columbia County,” said Clark, who is also a member of Chatham Keep Farming. “We’re tying to sensitize how important farming is to the entire community, and why it needs to be preserved.”
He went on to say that a good portion of the day’s visitors were young couples with their children, many of whom confessed to never having been on a farm before.
Spruce Ridge Farm in Old Chatham is an alpaca farm, which attracted visitors with tours of the baby alpacas — born this year — as well as a shop full of alpaca products and apparel.
“They’re nice,” said one visitor about the baby sheep, “but they’re definitely not as cute as the alpaca’s.”
Equine Advocates Safe Home Equine Rescue and Sanctuary in Chatham is a sprawling farm which provides a model for the humane treatment of horses of all different types and with different needs. Their mission, according to their website, is to educate people on how to properly care for, handle, and socialize horses. Tours of the sanctuary were offered throughout the day.
Another equine rescue organization on the tour was Little Brooke Farms in Old Chatham, hailed as one of the most diverse equine facilities in the nation. Established in 1977, Little Brooke strives to combine equine rescue with educational programs — including riding instruction — where they work with both community members and local schools.
“I think the farm tours were great,” said owner Lynn Cross. “I think people don’t have any idea what goes on farms in our area. It’s a good reality check to get people to go to a farm. We really love what we’re doing.”
Tours of the facility included several riding demos throughout the day, such as vaulting and drill teams, where people watched trained members of the farm show just how much the horses, and themselves, could really do.
Farm employee Christina Hinkel also stressed the importance not only of how the farm rescues horses which would otherwise be killed, but of how they use the animals and the farm experience to help encourage and teach local students from more than 80 different schools.
Cross agreed, adding that kid’s not only learn basic riding technique, but also skills that can be useful in all aspects of life, from coordination to mathematics.
Hinkel said that she’s seen such encouraging reactions working with students over the years that she decided to work with Questar in the creation of a class on the subject. Unfortunately, due to the tough economic times, there has not been enough funding available to start this year.
Regardless of the setback Hinkel is still looking forward to beginning the program as soon as she can.
“I’d really like to start one,” she said. “It would provide a lot of jobs.”
Overall, the day seemed to be a success for farms around the area, as they not only got a chance to teach people about what farming in Columbia County is all about, but to showcase their wares and products to local buyers as well.
“On a good weekend, we sell nearly $1,000 worth of products just in our cheese store,” said Tom Clark of the Sheepherding Company. Since Clark’s company continously encourages visitors, it seems to prove the importance of showcasing your products to local buyers.
“It’s really amazing how many visitors we get every weekend,” he said.
To reach reporter Paul Crossman call 518-828-1616, ext. 2266, or e-mail pcrossman@registerstar.com. To comment directly on this story, visit our website at www.registerstar.com.
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