Coby-Rich 3rd Graders Win Farm Tour

COBLESKILL, NY - June 8, 2014 - Schoharie Valley Farm to School Project of Cornell Cooperative Extension is pleased to announce that it has awarded the opportunity for a Farm Tour to the 3rd grade class of teacher, Debra Henry, of Radez Elementary School, Cobleskill-Richmondville CSD. The free tour, scheduled for Wednesday, June 11th, to begin at 11:45 am and end at 1:45 pm, is being made available through the support of Fox Creek Farm CSA of Gallupville, NY and Farm Family Insurance - Burke, Miller Associates, headquartered in Glenmont, NY.

Hosting the Farm Tour are Fox Creek Farm CSA owners, Raymond and Sara Lurhman, who will ensure that all members of Ms. Henry’s class have a chance to rotate thru several activities during their two hour tour. In order to get a close up view of a working farm, students will enjoy: 

(1) Planting: to learn about how plants grow from a seed; they will take their seedling home with them;

(2) Animals: walking to the cows and chickens (and to a pond - with its fish and tadpoles); seeing how their daughter Johanna’s small egg enterprise works;

(3) A “Haywagon” ride - to see the entire farm and the different crops being grown; will include a visit with the beekeepers, Tim and Jack Norray, at the hives on the farm.

The drawing for a free Farm Tour was limited to school districts who have been participants of the Schoharie Valley Farm to School Project. An additional qualifier limited consideration to teachers who had involved their classroom in the NYS Agriculture in the Classroom sponsored “I Love NY Ag” Art and Writing Contest, held from March - April 2014. 

All of the local entries will be on display at the Schoharie County Sunshine Fair. Included in the winning classroom is a statewide winner, Myteah Sperbeck. With over 300 entries judged from school districts across New York State, Myteah received an individual award of Honorable Mention in the category of 3rd grade submissions and will also have her entry on display at the New York State Fair in Syracuse.

For questions, contact Farm to School Project Coordinator, Regina Tillman, via email at rmt371@live.com, or via mobile phone at (518) 229- 1548, or call the office of Cornell Cooperative Extension Schoharie and Otsego Counties at (518) 234-4303 / (518) 296-8310.