Ag Fair enjoyable fills Village Green in Cornwall

CORNWALL — The thirty third annual Cornwall Agricultural Fair was held beneath clear blue skies Saturday, Sept. 13.

Organized by the Cornwall Agricultural Commission, the yearly occasion brings folks, animals and produce collectively on the Village Green for a day of agricultural appreciation.

Vendors bought items, group organizations shared info on their efforts and domestically sourced produce was judged by consultants.

Nathan Young presents his blue ribbon eggs on the Ag Fair.Riley Klein

Nathan Young, sophomore at Housatonic Valley Regional High School, entered a dozen eggs into the competitors. His assortment of white and brown eggs was awarded first place within the egg division. Young mentioned step one to producing prize-winning eggs is, “Get some chickens.”

At excessive midday, Pastor Micki Nunn-Miller of the United Church of Christ in Cornwall led the normal blessing of the animals. “Whether they are pets or working animals, we are grateful. Bless them. Amen,” she mentioned within the neighborhood of canines, chickens, cows, llamas, a donkey and a horse.

Pastor Micki Nunn-Miller blesses the animals.Riley Klein

The Cornwall Conservation Commission was elevating consciousness on composting and in addition invasive species within the space. Bruce Bennett was on the sales space signing up attendees for a free raffle to award new composters to fortunate winners. He additionally confirmed examples of invasive vegetation, citing bittersweet and knotweed as the 2 most problematic species on the town. Those who may establish the invasive vegetation by sight bought a bonus raffle ticket for the composter.

Cornwall Volunteer Fire Department’s sales space was selling its effort to boost cash for brand new vehicles. President Dick Sears mentioned the fundraising marketing campaign, which seeks to boost $600,000 by December, is off to begin and “the main event” would be the CVFD Open House Sunday, Oct. 19, from 12 to 2 p.m. on the firehouse in West Cornwall.

The Ag Commission tent was staffed by Jen Markow. She helped manage the occasion and had a last-minute thought to supply corn, milk and cookies in her sales space. “I baked the cookies last night,” she mentioned.

Her son, Spencer Markow, was over on the different finish of the Green with the vintage tractors and engines. “These are so fascinating to me,” he mentioned after explaining the completely different parts of a gas-powered engine to a teen that confirmed curiosity. Markow graduated from SUNY Morrisville final 12 months with a level in agricultural mechanics.

Spencer Markow explains how gasoline engines work to a teen who confirmed curiosity on the Ag Fair.Riley Klein

Nearby was conflict reenactor Warren Stevens in full Revolutionary-era regalia. He demonstrated completely different elements of life in 1775 to assist promote Cornwall’s plans to rejoice the nation’s 250th birthday subsequent 12 months.

Next to him was the Produce2thePeople tent, a small volunteer group that provides and redistributes meals to pantries within the Northwest Corner. Michelle Shipp and Chris Mullins develop greens on the group backyard plots on Route 4 and ship it, together with different donations, to meals banks in want. “The need is so great,” mentioned Shipp. “We have been delivering seven days a week.”

And in the course of all of it was a stack of haybales and yard video games for youngsters. After a pair hours of climbing and taking part in, the video games and the haybales morphed into one large playpen that produced youthful giggles by the afternoon.