New Paltz, NY — Savannah Baker, 19, of High Falls, NY was awarded the 2013 4-H Master Showmanship title for this year’s Ulster County Fair on Sunday, Aug. 4.
Baker qualified for the contest by excelling in Senior Showmanship in the area of Dairy Cattle which enabled her to advance to the final competition which included showmanship for Horse, Dairy Cattle, Goats, Sheep, Poultry, Dogs, and Rabbits.
Savannah has been a member of Ulster County 4-H since the age of seven, making her an active member for 12 years. 2013 will be her final year in 4-H. Savannah is the daughter of Wade and Robin Baker.
“Being a part of 4-H is one of greatest things I’ve ever done. It has made me a better person and introduced me to new people and places. It’s such a great opportunity for youth,” Baker says. “Winning Master Showmanship means a great deal to me,” Baker added.
Savannah is a sophomore at SUNY Ulster majoring in Fine Arts with a focus on photography. She plans to major in photography at SUNY Purchase.
In her spare time, Savannah enjoys doing collage. She received an honorable mention for an altered collage book that she submitted to an exhibit at SUNY Ulster during her senior year at Rondout Valley High School. Baker was crowned the Dairy Princess of Ulster County in 2010. Continue reading
Angus Glen Farm
by Katie Navarra
Introduced to agriculture at a young age, Brett Chedzoy of Watkins Glen, NY, spent much of his youth split between his grandparents’ farms in Kansas and Upstate New York.
In the mid-1980’s, Brett’s parents, Jim and Rose, purchased a small dairy farm from friends who wanted to retire. The cattle were sold and the farm was dormant for nearly two decades until Brett and his wife, Maria Jose, returned to the area in 2002.
The husband and wife team shared a goal of creating a viable business for the farm. Pasture fed beef seemed to be the most practical option given that they were owners of an Angus operation in the Sierra Mountains of Central Argentina on land close to Maria Jose’s family’s beef ranch.
In 2009 the farm in Watkins Glen was officially named Angus Glen Farms LLC. “The name seemed appropriate because we raise black angus cattle and the farm is adjacent to the Watkins Glen State Park the second most visited park in New York State,” he said, “and the original grand prix course (for car racing) also runs through the middle of the farm.” Continue reading
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Steady Lane Farm
by Laura Rodley
High on a slope in Ashfield, MA is a contented herd of grazing cattle guarded by an eight year old jenny who doesn’t like dogs. Even so, the jenny shares guardianship duties with a well-mannered one and a half year old black and white English Shepherd named Emma. Emma shares herding duties with her owner, Janet Clark. Janet and her husband Norbert Salz, best known as Nort, have raised predominantly organic, grass-fed beef on their 70 acre Steady Lane Farm since purchasing it in 2001.
Fed no hormones or animal byproducts, their beef cuts are leaner than conventional, containing more Omega-3 oils and beta carotene. They supply Ashfield’s Elmer’s Store restaurant with brisket. Customers include River Valley Market among many others. Continue reading
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Cow pie throwing contest at Eastern Rhode Island 4-H Fair
by Sanne Kure-Jensen
Glen Park in Portsmouth, RI hosted the Eastern RI 4-H Country Fair on the third weekend in July. Like so many 4-H Fairs, livestock and tractors were prominent. One fair contest featured livestock waste. Dried cow pies were used in a distance-throwing contest, instead of traditional balls or spears. Each contestant had two chances to throw a cow pie.
Mike Costa won the adult class in the Cow Pie Throwing Contest with his toss of 77’ 6”. Costa’s toss just barely beat the second place throw by Tyler Pimentel at 77’5”.
K. C. Bellavance’s 59’ cow pie throw won him first place in the children’s class, edging out Michael Aguiar’s second place toss.
Judging the contest was Amanda Leonardo from CAT Country radio’s morning show. The adult contest prize was $150. The children’s class prize was a $50 gift card to Barns & Noble. ‘A Traditional Sweep’ of Portsmouth, RI sponsored this event. Continue reading