Catskill Regional Dairy, Livestock and Grazing Conference

The Catskill Regional Dairy, Livestock and Grazing Conference was on January 17th at SUNY Delhi in Delaware County. This year's event was the biggest ever - selling out at over 125 attendees!

For the first time this year, what has traditionally been the Catskill Regional Dairy Conference was expanded to meet the growth of diversified and sustainable farms in the Catskill Region. The event was expanded in order to address the needs of farmers that raise beef, sheep and goats as well as dairy and meat producers who are incorporating grazing in to their operation.

Staff from Cornell Cooperative Extension of Delaware County and the CADI staff at SUNY Delhi provided wonderful food and speakers.


Peter Mapstone, a dairy grazier from Manlius, NY and featured speaker, discusses with Catskill farmers renovating and improving pasture and turning them into profitable working grazing paddocks.


Trout Creek beef farmer, Art Reynolds (right), visits with NRCS Conservationist, Brandon Dennis (left), between sessions.


Attendees pack in to hear a talk from Ken Jaffe of Slope Farms in Delhi, NY on distributing meat from small-scale farms.


Local farmers Gerry Dewitt of Dewitt Farms and Katharina Kessler of Promisedland Farm enjoy a great local luncheon served by Ulla Wadner of SUNY Delhi.

Thanks so much to all that came out for a great learning day!

Pure Catskills Holiday Market

The 2^nd Annual Pure Catskills Holiday Market was held on December 8^th at the Peekamoose Restaurant and Tap Room in Big Indian, NY. Nearly two dozen vendors were in attendance with seasonal gifts created from Catskills farms and forests. Events such as these are a great way to extend the Farmer’s Market season for farmers and customers alike!

Check out some photos of the Pure Catskills membership in action:


Dan, Aedan and Kevin Flaherty of Tir na nOg Farm in Walton, NY display their tradtional wool blankets.

Sylvia Jorrin of And Mrs. Jorrin’s Sheep Farm chats about her stories on farming in the Catskills.

Shoppers check out the goods from Lucky Chocolates and Shandaken Bake.


Ian, Jacob and Gary Lamont of Lamont Family Waffles and Slickepott Fudge Sauce with their specialty waffles and chocolate sauces.