TOWN OF SOUTHEAST – Agricultural entrepreneurs along with representatives of a variety of organizations promoting tourism traveled to the Tilly Foster Farm in Southeast for a day-long forum that stressed the need for local farms while at the same time making Putnam County a destination for tourism.
Eighty-five people attended Putnam’s 2020 Farm and Agribusiness Summit that was highlighted by talks from Todd Erling, executive director of the Hudson Valley AgriBusiness Development Corporation, Eric Warren of the Empire State Development Corporation, Liz Higgins representing the Eastern New York Commercial Horticulture Program, Christine Holic, Jennifer Drapala and Eric Cantamesa, educators at the Tilly Foster Farm Educational Institute and Jessica Ziehm of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Washington County.
A number of local farms were represented at the gathering including Glynwood in Philipstown, Green Chimneys in Patterson and SPACE on Ryder Farm in Southeast.
Kathleen Abels, president of the Putnam County Economic Development Corporation and Tracey Walsh, the county’s director of Tourism last year connected with a number of Putnam farms. Abels said, “Once meeting with the farmers, we realized that synergies existed needing exploration. Farms were discovered that incubated farmers while other farms incubated artists. We decided to bring people together allowing them to network and interact.”
Abels described Putnam as a “small county. Agriculture is a perfect fit for Putnam because it preserves our land as well as our agrarian history. This is a win-win. Since we are located only 50 miles from New York City, people can visit; spend a day or a weekend while enjoying what our county has to offer both east and west.”
Erling also addressed the need for the county to support its farming community while at the same time promoting its geographic location. “Market opportunities must be taken advantage of. By attracting tourists from outside the area, the county will piggyback on regional tourist efforts.”
Erling said the county’s easy access to mass transit and state highways – all within a 90-minute commute from the Big Apple – result in the county to be “sitting on the doorstep of a market that has significant growth potential.”
Stefanie Hubert, Putnam County Cornell Cooperative Extension executive director, stressed while “Putnam must be kept as a farming community it must also serve as a destination spot. The county should promote agri-tourism while supporting local farmers and if necessary hold their hands when needed. The result will be more and more people relocating to our communities.”
When queried about the number of farms located within the county’s six towns, Hubert said it is home to “a fair amount of farms primarily under the equine heading. Putnam is also proud to have a number of old-time commercial vegetable farms as well as mushroom farmers.”
State Senator Sue Serino (R, Hyde Park) joined a number of elected officials including Assemblyman Kevin Byrne and County Executive MaryEllen Odell in addressing the group.
Serino called it “critically important to work with our farmers while preserving their farms and watching the industry grow. Farmers need resources to continue their operations and we in government must assist when called upon.”
Odell talked about the Tilly Foster Farm campus. “When my administration began looking at the future of this magnificent 199-acre farm, we decided to study the past. Because the farm has a great deal of agricultural heritage — serving as both a dairy farm and later as a horse farm – we integrated that as my team looked towards the future. People are thrilled to see Charley and King grazing in the fields. The horses are back as are new additions and renovations to the farm. Today is about moving forward. Where do we go from here?”
