Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) of Chenango County invites all to the very first free Open Farm Day, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., September 20, at various participating farm and business locations. (Photo by Kelli Miller)

CHENANGO COUNTY — Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) of Chenango County invites all to the very first free Open Farm Day, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., September 20, at various participating farm and business locations.

Open Farm Day was launched to celebrate the diversity and economic importance of area farms. Similar events have been successful in other counties, and local organizers wanted to create an opportunity for residents to connect with agriculture close to home.

Explore local agriculture and history, meet local farmers, enjoy time with animals, and discover fresh products grown right here in Chenango County.

“As the proud  coordinator of Open Farm Day, CCE Chenango is excited to be supporting several farm sites,” said Craig Brown, CCE Chenango County Executive Director.

“Our team will be handing out stamp cards with fun details about each farm’s activities, business info, and a unique punch for every stop,” said Brown. “If visitors go to any two farms, they can visit our office at  99 North Broad Street  to receive a  free insulated goodie bag thanks to a generous $500 donation from Chenango Farm Bureau.”

Brown noted CCE Chenango will also be one of the official stops, featuring info from Farm Bureau, USDA, Chenango County Soil & Water, and their own programs.

He said families can enjoy  4-H games and activities, and they hope to welcome some  animal visitors  for hands-on fun.

“It’s a fantastic way to connect with their Agriculture Education Center  and celebrate local farming, and every participating farm is enthusiastic and ready to welcome the community with open arms,” added Brown.


Open Farm Day participants include: Wilcox Maple Products, LLC, Schmidt’s Scattered Maples, Berry Brae Farm, Kutik’s Everything Bees, The Beardslee Homestead’s Masseria, Chenango County Historical Society and Museum, and Cornell Cooperative Exchange Chenango County.

Wilcox Maple Products, located at 3597 County Road 32 in Oxford is a five generation dairy farm and in recent years, has expanded to maple production and more. They will offer a variety of products including pumpkins, gourds, squash, apples, maple syrup and samplings. Early visitors will receive a Wilcox Maple & More insulated cooler bag to take produce home. They will offer a meet and greet with a calf and laying hens.

Visit them online at www.facebook.com/people/Wilcox-Maple-Products-LLC.

Kutik’s Everything Bees, located at 3442 State Highway 12 in Oxford, is family owned and operated since 1978. It all began with just two hives and has grown into a migratory beekeeping business. Every winter, Bees travel to South Carolina, returning to New York each Spring to pollinate apple orchards and later produce honey. The farm has been extracting and bottling honey since 1979.

Visit their website at kutiks.com.

Schmidt's Scattered Maples, located at 150 Schmidt Road in Sherburne, was established in 1946 and is family run and owned. They milk 40 Holstein cows and registered Brown Swiss with a total of 80 head. On Open Farm Day, they will provide products and family activities. Meet Mark and Andrea Schmidt and their daughter Miranda.

Mark Schmidt said they are 3rd generation small family dairy farmers with an abundance of maple products to sample and sell.

They also offer USDA inspected Angus beef for sale and maple products which include syrup, coated peanuts, fresh ground coffee, cream, granulated sugar, barbecue sauce, and more.

Mark said they will also offer free hay rides to view cows grazing, a you-pick pumpkin patch and corn stalks to bundle for fall decoration and don’t miss the Chenango County Dairy Court activities and free maple milk samples.

Visit their website at schmidtsscatteredmaples.company.site.

Berry Brae Farm, located at 1191 County Road 10 in Pharsalia, is a historic farm focused on sustainable practices. Kenny and Sarah Jensen look forward to sharing their grass root efforts and said their farm is also home based to ‘Meat the Need Initiative Chenango’, connecting local farms to local food access in partnership with Catskill Agrarian Alliance.

The farm offers quality Berkshire pork, Dorper Lamb, Heritage Breed Chickens, and Thanksgiving Turkey. Kenny Jensen said they also sell a line of lard based products including Ida Cleaner. Refreshments and snacks will be available.

Visit their website at berrybraefarm.com

The Beardslee Homestead's Masseria, located at 101 State Route 80 in New Berlin, is on the National Register of Historic Places. The 100 acre property is designed with families in mind and offers cooking and dessert classes, apple and grape picking, collecting eggs, making wine, baking pizza, hiking, and kayaking, fishing and canoeing along two miles of riverfront. They also host weddings and parties.

The Greco family owns the homestead and look forward to visitors experiencing life from another time.

Visit their website at the beardsleehomestead.com

Chenango County Historical Society and Museum, located at 45 Rexford Street in Norwich, will provide family-friendly programs highlighting the history and heritage of agriculture in Chenango County said Chenango County Historical Society and Museum Executive Director Jessica Moquin.

Moquin noted the Loomis Barn, home of the “Bob Marshman Agriculture Education Center”, will be open for self guided tours with a variety of exhibits and artifacts illustrating the progression of agriculture, the dairy industry, and local industrial heritage.

She said there will also be creative local agricultural inventions on display, curated by Deputy County Historian John Antonowicz. Museum Assistant Elizabeth Hathaway, staff and volunteers will be ready to support the daily events.

Lunch can be purchased from “Joe’s Food Shack” food truck. Live music will be performed by Realtime Dixieland Band performing from 10:30 a.m to 12:50 p.m.

Visit their website at chenangohistorical.org.

“The Chenango County Farm Bureau generously sponsored this year’s Open Farm Day, helping make the event possible,” said Rich Taber, CCE Ag Economic Development Specialist.

“As a new initiative, the goal was to establish a strong foundation for the event, with plans to build on this success through additional sponsorships in the coming years,” said Taber.

The event will offer a unique opportunity for the public to learn more about local farms and the role they play in sustaining the county’s economy.

“For farmers, especially those who sell directly to consumers, Open Farm Day provides valuable exposure and the chance to boost sales through increased community engagement,” Taber added.

Chenango County Farm Bureau President Terry Ives said Craig Brown was one of the moving forces to make this reality happen and Rich Taber worked throughout the summer to coordinate and recruit participating farms.

In recent weeks, the entire CCE Chenango staff joined efforts to plan and execute the event and they are already planning for July 2026 Open Farm Day, with confidence additional farms and businesses will join.

Ives said he is hopeful Open Farm Day will continue for years to come.

Visit CCE Chenango County website at ccechenango.org.