Selling the Farm: Tough times call for tough decisions

SHERBURNE – After 45 years in the business, dairy farmers Robert and Susan Patt have decided that all signs are pointing toward a change.

The couple is hoping to sell the farm they’ve owned on the edge of the Village of Sherburne since 1989, citing age, the economy, and recent forces of nature as the deciding factors.

“I’ve been doing this for a long time now,” said Robert. “It’s time.”

The Patts are planning to relocate near their son’s dairy farm in Cayuga County, possibly drawing out the final point on an agricultural road map that’s led them from Robert’s birthplace in central Massachusetts, to Montgomery County (outside Albany) in 1972, then to Sherburne. They won’t say for sure what their retirement will entail, acknowledging it probably won’t be too far from the life they already know so well.



“We’ll still have a hand in it,” Robert said. “We’ll wait and see I guess. I’m looking forward to not having all your time spoken for.”

Susan is looking forward to being able to travel with her husband and visit their children who are spread across the country, a luxury the two have rarely shared together.

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Reader Response

1 comments on this story

mcnice
November 10th, 2006 at 3:07 am
It is so sad to see our dairy farmers forced into retirement, I only wish our legislators would lobby harder to save this dying breed of hard working and dedicated families. Yes, families I have to give due justice to wives and children of farm families who have help make farming a sucessful career while it was appreciated. I wish the Pratt's Good Luck in their new endevour and Thank you for being an important part of this community for so many years, I'm sorry NYS failed you as a farmer.
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