Middletown – Despite the downpour, friends, and supporters of Cornell Cooperative Extension Orange County (CCEOC) gathered at the Education Center & 4-H Park in Otisville to enjoy a night of old-fashioned fun at the eighth annual Bountiful Harvest Celebration on Friday, September 29. The annual event welcomes the season of giving thanks and celebrates all things Autumn in Orange County. The event helps to raise funds for the continued building of the Park and this year was a great success due to all our community supporters.
The unique festivity included games, a live auction, and the highlight of the night – a “celebrity cow-milking contest”, where local celebrities take part in showing off their prowess in hand milking a cow in just three minutes. This year’s celebrity cow milkers are all members of the local accounting industry – Mark Levy of Nugent & Haussler, Bonnie Orr of PKF O’Connor Davies, and Mike Turturro of RBT, CPAs. The overall winner was Mike Turturro collecting 9 ounces of milk. Bonnie Orr filled her bucket to the brim virtually, by collecting the most donations for CCEOC in a friendly “wagering” of pledges. Chris & Jill Van Aken of Van Aken Dairy provided the celebrity cows for milking as well as the milking lessons for the contestants. A much loved addition this year was the “Feed the Calves” with the Van Aken Dairy Farm providing two adorable calves. Derrik Wynkoop, President & CEO of Walden Savings Bank, put on his auctioneer hat and led our live auction to the fullest with much excitement and fun for all our guests.
“Our cow-milking celebrities were great sports and provided a fun competitive spirit for our contest. We appreciate them taking time out of their schedules and their support,” said Jill Van Aken, Community Outreach & Special Events Coordinator of CCEOC. “Their efforts helped us raise much-needed funds for our Education Center & 4-H Park.”
Following the contest, guests enjoyed a sumptuous farm-to-table dinner sourced with locally grown donations provided by Orange County Farmers and prepared by Country Courtesy Catering of Goshen along with a signature cocktail created by Pennings Cidery and beer provided by Long Lot Brewery.
“We’d like to thank all who attended or supported our 2023 Bountiful Harvest Celebration in addition to all those who came together to organize another successful event. We appreciate the continued support for our
Education Center & 4-H Park,” said Lucy Joyce, Executive Director of Cornell Cooperative Extension Orange County said, “The event for next year is being planned and hope you will join us.”
