Many of Chenango County’s dairy farmers aren’t getting any younger.
Not immune to the brain drain, a number of farm families are facing the tough reality that there won’t be anyone to take over their operation once it’s time to retire, says Janet Pfromm, Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Agriculture Educator.
“As farmers get older, more farms are being sold-off and developed,” said Pfromm. “We need youth to get more involved, we need to get them enthused about agriculture. We need a new generation of farmers. We’re seeing fifth generation farms with sixth generations that don’t want any part of it.”
The 8th Annual Chenango County Dairy Celebration is an opportunity to shine the spotlight back on the area’s biggest industry, says Pfromm, and connect youth and adults to their food producers and cultural heritage.
“It’s a way of saying thank you to those that feed us, take care of us and take care of our environment,” said the ag educator. “It’s also a chance for our farm families to get a day off and celebrate the work they do.”
Dairy Day, held annually in June at the Chenango County Fairgrounds during National Dairy Month, begins at 9 a.m. Saturday with the 5K “Milk Run” and a parade at 11 a.m. down East Main Street in Norwich. There will be agricultural activities, demonstrations and educational booths at the fairgrounds the rest of the day. Admission is free.
New to this year’s event is an Antique Milking Machines Display from Syracuse, and a “Bake It With Dairy” contest and auction. Contest submissions are due between 8 to 9 a.m., with judging beginning thereafter.
Other activities include sheep shearing and herding, farm equipment demonstrations, kiddie tractor pulls, a petting zoo, cow chip bingo, a coloring contest, haybale maze and a famous cows of history display.
“It’s neat for people to be able to see first hand where things have come from and where they’re going,” said Pfromm.
Retired Dairy Farmer Donald Franklin of Plymouth will be this year’s Parade Marshal. Katy Kemmeren of Bainbridge was named the 2008 Chenango County Dairy Princess.
There will also be a farm awards ceremony at noon – featuring the winner of the “I Love My Chenango County Dairy Farmer” contest – as well as free local milk, ice cream and yogurt all day.
“Dairy farmers are good people that are committed to living off the land and to producing a healthy and wholesome product,” said New York State Ag and Markets Commissioner Patrick Hooker. “They care not only about the end product, but the animals that produce it, as well as the land they work and the workers they employ. Because their efforts on the farm impact the lives of so many off the farm, I ask you to join me this month in pouring a tall glass of cold milk and honor our hard working dairy farmers for all that they do.”
With 6,200 dairy farms producing over 12 billion pounds of milk annually, New York is the nation’s third largest dairy state.
Chenango County is the largest milk producer in the Southern Tier.