NORWICH – The Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chenango County applauded staff members and volunteers, and took a few moments to reflect on another successful year during its annual meeting held on Tuesday at the organization’s 99 N. Broad St. home.
The Cooperative Extension (CCE) has been a staple in Chenango County for 98 years. CCE connects the needs of the local agricultural community with the resources of Cornell University to provide educational programs for ag businesses and individuals throughout the county. Services include programming for new and experienced farmers; a dairy, livestock and field crops program for commercial agriculturalists; services for local gardeners; the Eat Smart New York Program to promote healthy food choices; and multiple youth programs through CCE’s 4-H program.
“The Cornell Cooperative Extension is a volunteer organization at its base,” said CCE Executive Director Ken Smith. “We couldn’t do what we do without the people who are willing to make sacrifices ... I feel that I am very fortunate, the organization is very fortunate and the county is very fortunate to have people here working very hard in what they’re interested in and devoted to.”
Tuesday’s meeting featured guest speaker Henry Drexler, a CCE volunteer with a long family history tied to the ag industry the Cornell Cooperative Extension. Drexler’s presentation, “Barns of Chenango County,” offered a glimpse of the local ag industry and how its evolved over the years. Since 2006, Drexler has photographed barns throughout the county to show that while the face of agriculture has certainly changed in the last 100 years, evidence of the old ways of farming has left a mark on the county landscape, albeit fading quickly.
“You use to look over the hillside and see farm after farm, with very few gaps in between,” he said, citing the nearly 5,000 farms in the county in the late 19th century. “But by the time I started this project in 2006, that wasn’t the case ... A lot of the older barns are being replaced by larger, modern dairy barns,” he said. “It’s sad to see old farms that were once proud places of industry falling all over the county.”
Drexler’s presentation was followed by recognition of CCE’s Volunteer of the Year Award, given this year to outgoing New Berlin Supervisor Ross Ianello for his service on the CCE Board in addition to his work of promoting the ag industry at the county level during his 16-year tenure on the Chenango County Board of Supervisors.
The meeting also served as an update for the different programs offered through CCE, starting with the 4-H youth program. Janet Phfrom, 4-H coordinator, said 4-H made 2013 “an exciting year,” with a total 12 4-H clubs throughout the county and more than 240 members.
“A lot of our members participated in competitions at the regional and state levels this year,” she said, noting that some also attended horse competitions in Kentucky in November. Moreover, 4-H increased programs focused in science, technology, engineering and math by 20 percent, she pointed out; and it was awarded several state grants for training for science educators.
Nutrition and horticulture programs also had a good year, said Stacey Edick, coordinator of CCE Community Gardens Program. Over the year, the Community Gardens Program has established new gardens in Afton, Cook Park in Greene, and Roger’s Conservation Center in Sherburne. Participation is up, Edick noted, and the program is touting more than 350 pounds of produce that was grown and donated to local food pantries and soup kitchens.
CCE’s Grow Cook Eat Program can also make claim to a successful year, with 15 recent graduates of the program, Edick added.
Patty Stimmel, horticulture educator and master gardner volunteer coordinator, said 16 gardeners county-wide logged more than 500 volunteer hours this year, and the program took more than 120 calls from people seeking gardening advice. “This has been a good program to promote good gardening practice but over time, it will help lead to something better,” she said, explaining that good gardening practices lead to benefits like fewer invasive pests and better eating habits. “It’s definitely been a valuable service.”
It has also been a year of growth in agriculture programs at CCE, according to CCE Ag Economic Development Specialist Rich Taber. “We’re really trying to tout Chenango County as a good place to come farm,” he said. CCE’s ag volunteers are reaching out to farmers via online videos designed to educate about various agricultural practices, including proper grazing techniques and cow comfort. In the coming year, Taber said the organization will continue to reach out to farmers in any way possible and also start a new initiative to promote local meat and livestock producers.
For more information about the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chenango County and available services, visit its website at ccechenango99.squarespace.com or call 334-5841.