Lisa Green reports from Schodack Landing, NY. “One farmer feeds you and 154 of your friends each day," proclaimed a sign at the Columbia Land Conservancy’s 25th annual Country Barbecue. Reason enough to celebrate the CLC’s extensive and innovative work in support of agriculture in Columbia County and surrounding areas. On Sunday, May 24, on the expansive grounds of Dutch Hollow Farm, the event fulfilled part of the organization’s mission to strengthen the connections between people and the land. There were local farms exhibiting (and sampling) their products; sheep-shearing demonstrations, cattle mooing in the barn, and farm tours of the third-generation, 3,000-acre dairy farm on conserved land. And there was food, of course: pulled pork sandwiches, local hot dogs and beef burgers and sides, ingredients courtesy of area farms. Being a fundraising event, there had to be raffle items, but here they included a John Deere pedal tractor and a farm stay glamping weekend at Letterbox Farm. The Columbia Land Conservancy strives to be dynamic force in sustaining a strong and vibrant rural community where agriculture plays a central role in the economy, and judging by the enthusiastic mien of those at the event, the CLC is doing a very good job, indeed. Above, Barbara Reisman, trustee, and Mark Levy, chair of the CLC’s board of trustees.
Peter Paden, executive director of the Columbia Land Conservancy, and Lowell Johnston; Austerlitz residents Sarah Allen and Analisa Allen.
The sunglasses squad: Copywriter Michele Karas, Jennifer Baum, Ber Murphy, a photographer, and Charles Baum.
Carson Glover and Dale Saylor of North Chatham and owners of Hollymount Ltd.; Rick McCarthy, Betsy Jacks, executive director of the Thomas Cole National Historic Site and Jean Hamilton of Flower Blossom Farm in Ghent.
Graphic designer Ellen Lynch with Michele Steckler of Fly Loft Group; Host Committee members Keith Kanaga, Aryn Kanaga and Katherine Kanaga.
Jill Castellano, who owns Kinderhook Wine & Spirits in Valatie and Michael Castellano, principal broker at Gilcrest Properties.
Melissa Skoda and her son Alexander Skoda from Triple Creek Dairy Farms, representing Hudson Valley Fresh, a dairy farmer cooperative; Susan Cathers and David Cathers of Old Chatham.
Dairy princess ambassador and her sidekick; Ralph Hartzell assures the crowd that the yoke is not too heavy for his two-ton oxen.
Alex Volkheimer and Brett Sykes, who is an intern at the Columbia Land Conservancy
Amy Barr, Julie Fenster and Jami Rubin; sheep peeking out of the pen before their turn at the sheep-shearing demonstration.
Host committee members Colton Brown and Natasha Brown; the man of the hour: host Paul Chittenden, owner of Dutch Hollow Farm (and a herd of 1,400 cattle), who was chopping alfalfa until just before the event started.
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Matteline deVries-Dilling, founder of Lite Brite Neon, one of the evening's honoree of this year's Upstate Benefit adresses the gala from the Caboose's caboose.
- Karen Pearson. Courtesy Art Omi.
Olana senior vice president and landscape curatorMark Prezorski, president Sean Sawyer, The evenings honoree Kristin Gamble and New York State Assemblymember Didi Barrett.
- Oxygen House Photo
