2017 Farmer-Neighbor Dinner

Some photos from the 2017 Farmer-Neighbor Dinner on April 12, 2017 will be near the bottom of this page.

View more photos are available in the 2017 Farmer-Neighbor Dinner on Flickr.

Music at the event by Homemade Jam

Farm Bureau Scholarship

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Farmer of the Year - Pumpkinville

Pumpkinville is a 200 acre farm owned by Dan & Diane Pawlowski and their children – son, Jim and wife,  Melissa, daughter Lisa, and son-in-law Greg Spako.  Each family member contributes individual talents and takes on responsibilities instrumental to the success of the farm.  In addition to the family members, over 100 seasonal employees help keep Pumpkinville running smoothly.

Pumpkinville promotes family fun on the farm.  Every year in seven weeks over 80,000 visitors from many different states and countries enjoy coming to Pumpkinville for a unique fall experience.  Pumpkinville grows larger each year as new activities and products are added.

The crops produced on the Pumpkinville farm include pumpkins, several varieties of winter squash, ornamental corn and gourds for the fall season.

Visitors to Pumpkinville experience a wide variety of fall entertainment.  They can take hayrides into the horse pasture, wander through a corn maize, pet and feed the farm animals, ride the train, and much more.

A popular Pumpkinville attraction is the cider mill where apples are squeezed using a 1880’s cider press. Visitors can purchase many varieties of NYS apples or watch them being turned into fresh apple cider.

Pumpkinville is well known for the pumpkin donuts produced at the bakery on the farm.  In addition to donuts, the bake shop features homemade pies, cookies and breads.  Pumpkinville also offers hot meals from a BBQ pit and chicken BBQ, has pumpkin funnel cakes, kettle corn, and serves ice cream and other tasty treats.  Many food items served at Pumpkinville are purchased locally.  New York State potatoes, chicken, milk products, and maple syrup are all locally produced and used in the food venues.

Many school groups visit Pumpkinville on weekdays for an educational farm experience.  Classes who visit can take a hay ride, pick a pumpkin and enjoy a fresh made donut and a glass of freshly made apple cider.  Self guided tours are offered  throughout the farm using educational signs to teach students about various aspects of agriculture.

In 2016 Pumpkinville was honored to be named one of the top ten corn maizes in the United States by Peanuts Worldwide Corporation.  Peanuts Corporation and Pumpkinville partnered to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” television special which entitled Pumpkinville to a visit from the official Peanuts Worldwide Corporation Snoopy mascot and in 2008 Pumpkinville was granted the I Love New York Governor’s Award for New York State’s Agri-Tourism Business of the Year.

Pumpkinville is a proud member of the New York State Farm Bureau, North American Farmers Direct Marketing Association and supports 4-H, FFA, Cattaraugus County BOCES National Honor Society and the local food banks.

Friend of Agriculture - Lloyd "Ev" Lamb

Ev is a second generation co-owner of Lamb and Webster; Lamb & Webster was founded in 1960 by Lloyd Everett Lamb’s father, Lloyd Lamb and Austin Webster in Springville, New York to meet the growing demands for Agricultural equipment.  Ev has been very active in Agriculture since his high school years; he started working afternoons in the parts department.  Lamb & Webster, Inc. now has 4 locations, Springville, North Java, Woodhull New York and Grove City, Pennsylvania.

Lloyd supports many different types of agriculture events and activities such as the Future Farmers of America (FFA), 4-H, the Cattaraugus, Erie, Allegany and, Wyoming County Fairs, and The Cattaraugus County Farmer-Neighbor Dinner.   In his earlier years he received the National FFA Award.

He oversees many donations toward the purchase of 4-H animals and supports the tractor driver safety courses for 4-H members.

Conservation Farm of the Year - Blesy Farms

Blesy Farms, LLC has been selected by the Cattaraugus County Soil & Water Conservation District as the 2017 Conservation Farm of the Year.  This award is presented by the Conservation District to a farm which has demonstrated a sincere commitment to the conservation and protection of our soil, water, and related natural resources.

Blesy Farms is a family owned dairy operation including Harold, Nathan, Brandon Blesy & their farmilies.  The farm has worked closely and cooperatively over the years with the Cattaraugus Co.  SWCD, as well as with partner organizations such as the WNY Crop Management Association to plan and implement several conservation projects on their farm.  These projects include manure storage structures (most recently in 2016), nutrient management, silage leachate management, and cover crops to prevent erosion and improve soil health.  On-going participation in the Agricultural Environmental Management (AEM) program helps the farm keep up to date in addressing current environmental needs on their operation.

Ag Legacy Award -Clarence "Joe" and Jeannie Pagett

The Pagett family has been selected for this award for their life long dedication to the following:

  • Active supporters of the Cattaraugus County 4-H program.
  • Joe & Jeanie both participated on Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Personnel Committee
  • Jeanne was an active promoter, from the very beginning, of the “Ag in the Classroom” program.
  • Jeanie managed the Agricultural Contest for grades pre-K through 8th grade.
  • Joe actively participated in numerous committees and boards over the years, including:
  • Cattaraugus County Farm Service Agency County Committee
  • Eastern/Genex A. I. board
  • Cattaraugus County Ag. Environmental Management Steering Committee
  • Cattaraugus County Corn/Field Crop Committee
  • Joe also was a weather observer for the National Weather Service, where he recorded weather conditions and reported them to the NWS.  He received NWS’s 2nd highest award, known as the John Campanious Holm Award, in 2011 for his many years of service in reporting local weather conditions.

Guest Speaker - Nichols Family Farm

"The Importance of Broadband to the Farming Community" by the Nichols Family

2017 Farmer-Neighbor Sponsors

Premier

Lamb & Webster, Inc.

Platinum

  • Seneca Gaming Corporation
  • Rock City Chrysler Jeep Dodge
  • Farm Credit East ACA
  • Allegany Insurance Group
  • Cattaraugus County IDA
  • Cattaraugus County EDPT
  • Joe Pillittere
  • Southern Tier West

Gold

  • Car-Bu Farms
  • Cattaraugus County Soil & Water Conservation District
  • Dairy Farmers of America
  • The Evans Agency
  • Gramco, Inc.
  • Laing-Gro Fertilizers, Inc.
  • Perry Veterinary Clinic
  • Seneca Trail RC&D
  • ERA Team VP Real Estate
  • Lillenstein & Pfeiffer
  • WNY Crop Management Association
  • Wild Acres Family Farm

Silver

  • Nannen Arboretum
  • Rinker Oil Corporation
  • Charlesworth Family Farm
  • Wal-Mart

Bronze

  • Thompson Ag

Event Donors

  • Canticle Farm
  • Ford Brothers
  • Native Offerings Farm
  • Upstate Milk
  • Car-Bu Farms, LLC
  • Merritt Winery
  • 3C’s Catering
  • Cutco Corporation
  • Arboretum on Blue Hill
  • Nichols Farm
  • Watson’s Chocolates
  • Kareli Cakes
  • Dina’s

Agriculture Advocates

  • Telaak Farms, LLC
  • West Valley Chamber of Commerce
  • Fat Root
  • Cattaraugus County Department Heads
  • Cattaraugus County Legislators
  • Cattaraugus County EDPT
  • Pines of Machias
  • Cattaraugus County Soil & Water
  • Town of Persia
  • Bailey Family
  • Car-Bu Farm
  • Nichols Farm
  • Cornell Co-Op Ext. Catt. Cty

Thank You to our Exhibitors:

Allegany Insurance Group
Cattaraugus County EDPT
Cattaraugus County Farm Bureau
Cattaraugus County Health Department
Cattaraugus County Soil & Water Conservation District
Dairy Farmers of America
Evans Agency
Farm Credit East ACA
Farm Service Agency
Nannen Arboretum
NYCAMH
Rock City Chrysler Jeep Dodge
Seneca Trail RC&D
Southern Tier West
Wild Acres Family Farm

Special Thank You ...

to the West Valley Volunteer Hose Company
and the West Valley Firemen’s Auxiliary

Decorated & Set Dining Tables
People mingling at the dinner
Kim LaMendola, of STW, shaking hands with Judson Reid, Cornell's Vegetable Specialist
4H Cloverbuds we're helping with distributing food and cleaning tables

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