Fifty years ago there were 1,800 farms in Saratoga County… today 641 farms (one-third as many) are in operation. Because fewer people are directly involved in farming, not many have the opportunity to experience agriculture first-hand and understand how the food we eat (and some of the fiber we wear) is produced. The Saratoga County Agricultural Promotion Committee decided to provide that critical link between the farming community and the public-at-large and hold an open house at a different farm each year for area residents to visit a real working farm, learn about local agriculture, and realize the importance of a viable agricultural industry in Saratoga County.
Saratoga County’s 15th Annual “Sundae on the Farm” will be held on
Sunday June 20 at Arnoldhaven Farm, Inc. on 1298 Sacandaga Road in the
Town of Charlton. The annual event, taking place from 12:00 pm through
4:00 pm, showcases the breadth and significance of agriculture in
Saratoga County and is enjoyed by approximately
3,000 visitors each year.
“Sundae on the Farm” is fun and educational for the whole family… a
perfect way to spend this Father’s Day together. Free events include:
tours of the dairy farm, children’s activities, farm animals to see,
horse-drawn wagon rides, live music, agricultural exhibits, and
demonstrations by three area chefs using local farm products. Chefs from
Charlton Tavern, Village Pizzeria & Ristorante, and the Charlton
General Store will be creating dishes using locally produced products.
For the second time, a Spelling Bee and Stewart’s Ice Cream Eating
Contest will be featured at the event. Plenty of food is served at
“Sundae on the Farm” including: hotdogs, hamburgers, Stewart’s Ice Cream
featuring hot fudge topping from Sundae’s Best Hot Fudge, maple syrup
topping from Maple Acres, and Pie a la mode featuring homemade pies from
Smith’s Orchard Bake Shop.
More fun can be found for all ages with the showcase of horses and a
unique Farmer’s Market. Parking is plentiful and several trams (with
farm-savvy hosts on board for questions and answers) will transport
visitors between the parking area and the farm.
Saratoga County’s “Sundae on the Farm”, a successful educational effort
to promote local agriculture, has become a model emulated by many other
counties. The event is organized by the Saratoga County Agricultural
Promotion Committee and sponsored by Cornell Cooperative Extension of
Saratoga County, American Farmland Trust, Saratoga County Farm Bureau,
and the Town of Charlton with support from the Saratoga County
Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board. The public is invited to
experience this year’s event in Charlton and see what all the fun is
about!
For more information call Cornell Cooperative Extension Saratoga County
at 885-8995 or visit: www.saratogafarms.com.