The Evening Sun

Join the fun and educational programs at Dairy Day and Open Farm Day, July 18

Kelli Miller June 3rd, 2026

Last year, Chenango County Dairy Day Ambassadors served ice cream during Dairy Day. Open Farm Day offered hay rides and an abundance of produce. This year, the two events are combined. Dairy Month continues to be in June but Chenango County Dairy Day has been switched to July 18, to coincide with Cornell Cooperative Extension’s 2nd annual Open Farm Day. (Submitted photo)

Chenango County — June is Dairy Month, but this year, Chenango County Dairy Day will be held on July 18 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., July 18, at the fairgrounds, located at 168 East Main Street. It was moved to coincide with Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) of Chenango County’s 2nd annual Open Farm Day.

Dairy Day will provide youth activities, food, dairy products, project displays, contests, the opportunity to meet the official Dairy Ambassadors and engage with local producers.

According to the CCE website, global dairy innovator Chobani and the Chenango County Farm Bureau will also be on hand to highlight the power of large-scale production and regional agriculture in the Upstate New York community.

“These events celebrate the storied history and importance of agriculture in Chenango County,” said CCE Grazing, Forestry, Ag Economic Development Specialist Rich Taber.

“We are combining events so that we can have a stronger and more effective impact for our agricultural community,” Taber said.

Area residents and visitors are also invited to enjoy Open Farm Day, a day of free self-guided tours, interactive demonstrations, and family fun events throughout the county.

Chenango County Open Farm Day participants will be Berry Brae Farm, Ryan’s Yak Farm, Hillcrest Lavender Farm, Penwingle Farm, Fox Trail Farm, and Cook’s Maple.

Farms will offers tours of livestock operations, tours of traditional crop and livestock homesteads, U-Pick blueberries, fragrant fields of lavender, a wood-fired sugarhouse, and more.

Generational farmer and previous Chenango County Farm Bureau President Terry Ives said less than two percent of the area population is growing the state’s food and fiber.

“We need to share how it is grown and produced,” Ives said. “Dairy Day is an opportunity to learn and have fun.”

“Open Farm Day is the opportunity to go to the source and see what is happening,” he added.

Additional participants will be Chenango County Historical Society and Museum, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chenango, Rogers Center, and Kutiks’ Honey Bee’s, offering hands-on educational programs.

For a list of locations and interactive maps, visit the official event page online at ccechenango.org.

Kelli Miller

Kelli Miller has been a staff writer for the Evening Sun since February 2023. Kelli has professional experience as a mortgage banker. She has a passion for writing and is proud to live in Chenango County. Kelli covers a wide range of topics including business, community development, real estate and special events. In her spare time, she raises chickens, gardens, paints, crafts and writes short stories. Kelli has been with her husband for 42 years, and the couple continues to remodel their country home. They have several children and grandchildren. Kelli can be reached by email at kmiller@evesun.com.