By Beth McKellips
(Madison County, NY – Aug. 2013) Cornell Cooperative Extension of Madison County’s 6th Annual Open Farm Day on Saturday, July 27 
was smash success this year! Over 5,000 people visited Madison County farms for tours, sample local products, meet farm animals and learn about the amazing diversity of Madison County Agriculture first-hand.
Sixty-three percent of farms sold over $400 of products and 96 percent of farmers reported that Open Farm Day helped to increase awareness of their farm products.
Open Farm Day is a tremendous community event that allows farmers access new markets and expand their customer base, as explained by Jimmy Golub from Our Farm.
“Open Farm Day brings customers to us,” Golub said. “As a specialty product we need large numbers of customers to know we’re here and how to buy our product on an ongoing basis. The enthusiasm and support from the visitors is awesome!”
From Madison County beef, butter and bison, pasture-raised pork, sweet corn, peas, tomatoes, mushrooms, jams, honey, salsa, bread, wine, hard and sweet cider, maple products and much more, it was impossible to not find something new and interesting on Open Farm Day! See you next year!
Open Farm Day would not be possible without the support of several local businesses! Thank you to: Price Chopper, Farm Family Insurance, CaroVail, Chobani, Madfoods.com, Gorman Foundation, Farm Credit East, Buy Local Madison County, Country Folks, Northeast Hop Alliance, Eagle Publications, Clinton Tractor and Implement Co., Morrisville State College, WMCR, Gifford Foundation, Plank Road Magazine, Farm Bureau of Madison County, Empire Brewery, Colgate Inn, Upstate Institute at Colgate University, Organic Valley, Hamilton Partnership for Community Development, Southern Madison Heritage Trust Inc., Den Kelly, Kriemhild Dairy Farms, Tanner Ins., Parry’s, Foothill Hops, Wormuth Dairy & Refrigeration LLC, Charles Husted Inc., Cargill, Obreza Trucking, Endless Trails Farm, Queensboro Farm Products Inc., M. Burton Marshall, Cooley’s True value, Empire Buffalo, Ingallside Meadows Farm, Creekside Meadows Farm and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Madison County.