Another Farmers Market Could be Coming to Schoharie County

By Chris English

SCHOHARIE COUNTY — Schoharie County's Board of Supervisors at its Friday morning, June 20 meeting got the ball rolling on a new Farmers Market that might be coming to a not yet known location in the county.

The BOS voted to apply for a grant from the United States Department of Agriculture that, if obtained, would fund or help fund the market's construction or other expenses involved with getting it started.

Supervisor Alicia Terry, Chair of the county Agriculture Committee, said the effort for a new farmers market is being led by county Agriculture Specialist Caroline Myran.

"A couple of communities have identified the need for a new farmers market," Terry said. "Possible locations include but are not limited to the Village of Schoharie."

Terry continued that among the actions taken by Myran and her office to jumpstart the venture was an online survey of farmers and consumers that drew 422 responses and indicated definite interest in starting the market.

Four listening sessions will be held in the next few weeks to further gauge interest. They will be 6 p.m. July 10 at the Schoharie Firehouse; 6:30 p.m. July 15 at the CCE Extension Center in Cobleskill; 10 a.m. July 19 at the Blenheim-Gilboa New York Power Authority Visitor Center and 6 p.m. July 24 at the Carlisle Town Hall.

Terry added that the market would be an independent entity and not a function of county government.

In other actions from the June 20 meeting, the BOS approved a resolution officially appointing Bryan Best as the new county administrator for a term commencing June 30 and expiring on May 31, 2027. His starting annual salary will be $150,000.

Also approved was a resolution appointing Mary Johnson as Museum Director and Business Manager of the Old Stone Fort Museum in Schoharie at a starting annual salary of $74,974. The appointment is retroactive to March 31 and is subject to a 52-week probationary term.

Other resolutions approved included one appointing eight members to the Fulton, Montgomery and Schoharie County Workforce Development Board. They are Donna Holzeis (term expiring June 30, 2026); Roger Cusano (June 30, 2026); Dwayne Illsey (June 30, 2028); Donna Pesta (June 30, 2027); Jeannette Spaulding (June 30, 2026); Christopher Manus (June 30, 2028); Donna Becker (June 30, 2027) and Wendy Adams (June 30, 2027).

Appointed to the Alternatives to Incarceration Panel were BOS Chairman Bill Federice, County Court Judge Ryan McAllister, Sheriff Ronald Stevens, Under Sheriff Bruce Baker, Community Services Director Sarah Nies, District Attorney Susan Mallery, Probation Director Richard Cain, Cobleskill Town Justice Dawn Fiorillo, County Court Representative Clinton Avent, Defense Attorney Lee Hartjen, Pastoral Care Manager John Jarvis, Administrator Assigned Counsel Plan Suzanne Graulich, Law Enforcement Representative Steve Weinhofer, SUNY Cobleskill Police Chief William Henn and Youth Bureau Director Cody Robinson-Bullock.

Appointed to the County Traffic Safety Board/Stop DWI Board were Karl Remmers (term expiring June 30, 2026); Ron Stevens (June 30, 2026); Linda Robert (June 30, 2026); William Henn (June 30, 2027); Jennifer Field (June 30, 2027); Lawrence Caza (June 30, 2028); John Conboy (June 30, 2028) and Rebecca Schroeder (June 30, 2028).