Farm girl

By ISABEL BRAVERMAN

Anyone who has ever lived in Sullivan or Wayne County knows they are in large part comprised of one large business—farming. Sure, jokes are made about how there are more cows than people, but with that also comes profound respect for the farmers who raise those cows. And so, it is only right that this area celebrate these hardworking people. Dennis Baker has done just that with his debut book “The Cowgirl,” written about a farmer of 50 years, his mother.

Baker, a retired Navy commander, decided to write the book as a tribute to his mother, Betty Baker, for her many years of hard work. He said he watched his mom through hard times and saw her “effort to make things right for people and animals.” In times when anyone in his family was sick, she would nurse them back to health. She began with a 150-acre farm bought for $19,000 and turned it into a successful business, a business she now runs by herself due to her husband’s death in 2002. It is because of her caring heart and independence that Baker wanted to write this book.

Baker recounts a story of a freezing winter night when his mom stayed up all night holding a hair dryer to a water pipe so it would not burst, and therefore keep the animals warm and dry. It is her work ethic, and the will to always make other people happy, that Baker names as what is most inspiring about his mother. “She never gives up, never stops, always doing—always doing for others,” he said.

“The Cowgirl” tells the story of the life and times of Betty Baker. Each story is a testament to her strength and will, providing Dennis an opportunity to reflect on the important things in life. Pictures placed throughout the book give a visual reference to help better understand the woman and her times.

Dennis is hoping to impart onto readers “the importance of life and family.” He says his mother is one who had to endure many hardships, from devastating losses in the family to running the farm in tough times, but came out of it with her head up. He wants her stories to encourage others to “be strong, be an individual and have integrity.”

“The Cowgirl” can be purchased at blurb.com.

Baker isn’t the only one celebrating the life of a farmer. This year marks the 29th year for the “Down on the Farm Day,” an event that is designed to help explain modern agriculture, food production and animal care to the consumer public. It will be held Saturday, August 1 at the Weiss Dairy Farm on Deppa Road in Swan Lake from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The event gives farmers a chance to show the public what they do; for example, this year there will be milking demonstrations, hay baling, a farm equipment display, guided tours of the farm and more. Sullivan County also boasts a new agriculture-centric event this year, “Farmstock ’09,” a series of working farm tours, designed to help people gain first-hand experience of what is involved in farming. See sidebar for details on both events.

Such large events as “Down on the Farm Day” would not be uncommon for Betty Baker. She, along with 200 guests, recently celebrated her 80th birthday on July 18th at her farm. Baker says the farm brings a feeling of unity where the family can gather. It is his mother’s 80 years of extraordinary living that Baker is now sharing with the public for all to enjoy, and to come away from with a sense of having had a glimpse of something great.

Celebrating local agriculture

Down on the Farm Day

This year’s Down on the Farm Day will be held on August 1 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Weiss Dairy Farm on Deppa Road in Swan Lake. Fee: $2 per person.

Food will be available from the Briscoe Lake Foundation at a nominal cost.

For more information call 845/292-6180.

Farmstock ’09 Working Farm Tours

The Pure Catskills Buy Local campaign is sponsoring a series of farm tours in Sullivan County. Tours last from 12:00 noon to 3:00 p.m. and cost $6 for adults and $3 for children. August tours are:

Saturday, August 8. Diehl Homestead Farm, 93 Diehl Road, Callicoon, NY. 845/482-5047. Features milking demonstration at 2:00 p.m., jelly making, maple syrup and honey extracting.

Saturday, August 15. Apple Pond Farm and Renewable Energy Education Center, 80 Hahn Road, Callicoon Center, NY. 845/482-4764. Features goat milking demonstration at 2:00 p.m., learning to make whole milk ricotta and edible wild foods. Free-range eggs and USDA inspected lamb for sale.