Nine Regonal Farmers Awarded PURE CATSKILLS Educational Scholarships

WALTON, NY -- The Watershed Agricultural Council, with funding from New York City Environmental Protection, recently awarded $3,500 through the Pure Catskills Education Scholarship Program to nine regional farmers to attend various workshops, seminars and conferences to expand their knowledge and improve their farm's bottom line or product offerings. "These awards are offered to Pure Catskills members on a competitive basis," noted Challey Comer, the Council's Farm to Market Manager who oversees the Pure Catskills buy local initiative. "These scholarships cover educational expenses related to developing new products or improving production methods. The average award is $350 with funding offered to cover registration and travel expenses." This round of recipients included: 

* Paula Allen of Thornwood Farm, who will attend the 2010 Annual Conference, American Livestock Breeds Conservancy; Allen is a poultry producer in Sidney, Delaware County.

* Mark Harvey of Good Fields Farm will attend Nutrient Dense Crop Production Training offered by Hawthorne Valley Farm in Ghent.

*Joseph Lennon, representing the Sullivan County Farmer's Market Association, will attend the Professional Farmers' Market Manager Training Program, offered by the Farmers' Market Federation of New York.

*Loren Pola of Rusty Plough Farm (Green County) will take two Beginner Farmers online courses in Financial Record Keeping and Evaluating Land Resources offered by Cornell University's Small Farms Program.

* Abby Wilson of Delhi's Maple Shade Farm (Delaware County) will attend the Annual Conference and Convention of the North American Farmers' Direct Marketing Association.

* Michelle Premura of Turquoise Barn and Terry Hannum of Abundance Farm, both of South Kortright (Delaware County), will attend the Northeast Organic Farmer's Association of New York 2011 winter conference.  "I would not be able to attend the conference without the generous grant funding as I am beginning new ventures on our 5+ acre farm in South Kortright," said Hannum. "Of particular to me is increasing our production of blueberries, grapes, elderberries and hazelnuts. We have successfully started small plots of these crops and have proved that our property is suitable for increased plantings. These are crops that are not widely popular in Delaware County, so finding specific information on management and marketing is challenging.  This year's NOFA-NY conference has sessions addressing these crops; people who have already tread this path will be on hand to teach me more. Small, sustainable, diverse cash crops such as these are critical to keeping small farms going and I hope to encourage others to try these crops as well. I am also looking forward to hearing keynote speaker, Miguel Altieri, who will address the issues of agro-ecology and the socio-economics of small farm development. I am very interested in this topic and hope to pass on his research and philosophies to other small farm operators in the Catskill region."

Brett and Sarah Budde of Majestic Farm in Mountaindale (Sullivan County) have already used their scholarship awards by attending the Young Farmers' Conference at Stone Barns Center in December. "The conference covered subject matter from integrated pasture management and technical aspects of farming to government policy to work songs," noted Sarah. "It included over 50 workshops and keynote talks from farm heavyweights such as Bill Niman and Dan Barber. Attendees of the conference ranged from college students enthusiastic about permaculture and biodynamic farming to seasoned farmers looking to connect with contemporary practice. Mostly it was a young, progressive crowd of excited young farmers with a couple more or couple less years experience than us. Together, Brett and I covered about fourteen courses, all informative and inspiring. After each course, we would get together and giddily discuss what new facts we had found out, what type of information the presenters were giving and what new practices we may translate to our own farm. Particularly of interest to us was the Stone Barns own practice of raising pigs in forestland. We spent time during the social hours seeking out various young farmers who were doing similar things, as well as meat producers and packagers, USDA officials and restaurateurs. The conference further encouraged our own aspirations to put in a 20-C kitchen, add hoop houses and diversify our current operation."

In the coming months, scholarship recipients will share their experiences on the Pure Catskills blog, www.pure-catskills.blogspot.com.

Pure Catskills is an economic initiative of the Watershed Agricultural Council. The buy local campaign has over 200 business members including farms, retailers, restaurants, and food organizations. Pure Catskills promotes farm and food businesses in the Catskill Region and increase support of the local food system. Pure Catskills promotes its message of local food first through a printed annual Guide, and online presence through its website, blog and FaceBook Page. Members hail from Delaware, Greene, Otsego, Schoharie Sullivan and Ulster counties. For more information, visit www.purecatskills.com.

The Watershed Agricultural Council assists private landowners to improve their farm and forest lands in order to protect clean drinking water for nine million New York City residents.  The Council works with nearly 1,000 property landowners in developing conservation plans and applying those practices in accordance with farm and forest management plans. Working with farmers, agribusinesses, forest landowners, forest industry professionals and others, WAC seeks to enhance both business profitability and environmental stewardship. The Council's mission is to support the economic viability of agriculture and forestry through the protection of water quality and the promotion of land conservation in the New York City watershed region. It works through partnerships with other nonprofits organizations, government agencies and community stakeholders to achieve its purpose. The nonprofit is funded by The New York City Department of Environmental Protection, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Forest Service and other federal and foundation sources.  The WAC is an equal opportunity employer and provider.  For more information, visit www.nycwatershed.org.

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