WALDEN, NY – On Saturday, September 27, Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) Orange County hosted the 34th annual Open House on the Farm, marking its return after a brief hiatus. This year’s event was held at Sprucegate Farm, an active and longstanding dairy farm.

Families and visitors of all ages enjoyed a day filled with hands-on agricultural experiences. Highlights included guided tours of the working dairy farm, live music by local musician Tim VG, and interactive stations at which guests could “touch a tractor” and explore various types of farming equipment. Children and adults alike had the opportunity to meet and learn about farm animals, including calves, goats, sheep, baby chicks and ducklings.

Local farms and vendors, such as Stap Dairy and Green Valley Farm, were also in attendance, offering a variety of locally produced goods, including ice cream, milk and other products.

Open House on the Farm is designed to be both fun and educational, a CCE Orange County spokesperson said. It offers an inside look at modern farming practices and the importance of agriculture in the region. Sprucegate Farm is home to 65 Holstein cows, three Jersey cows and 30 heifers (young female cows under the age of two). The farm encompasses 240 acres, of which 155 acres are tillable, including 60 acres of corn and 27 acres of alfalfa, both used for silage to feed the livestock.

In addition to the daily operations, Sprucegate Farm is involved in agricultural education. The farm regularly hosts school field trips and supports programs like the 4-H Dairy Explorers, helping to foster the next generation of farmers and agricultural leaders.

This event reflects the ongoing efforts of local farms to engage with the community and adapt to changing public needs, while continuing to support and sustain the dairy industry in Orange County.

“CCE Orange County is so excited to bring back Open House on the Farm. This is a longstanding community tradition that allows the public to experience firsthand how a dairy farm operates, meet farm animals, and enjoy fall festivities on the beautiful farm property,” said Zoe Nafis, CCE Orange County’s livestock, equine and dairy program manager. “With the decline in dairy farms in recent years, it is important to teach the community about where their food comes from and introduce them to the farmers who dedicate their lives to raising happy, healthy animals.”

The event was sponsored by Farm Credit East, Rapid Tire, Gurda Produce,  Hillcrest Farms, Paul Congelosi Trailer Sales, Cochecton Mills, Dairy Farmers of America, Agriculture and Farmland Protection Board Orange County and Sprucegate Farm.

Open House on the Farm is coordinated by CCE Orange County and sponsored in part by Farm Credit East. For more information, call Zoe Nafis at 845/344-1234 or visit www.cceorangecounty.org.

Contributed by CCE Orange County, NY.