Come Meet Your Local Farmers
Come Meet Your Local Farmers
The 11th Annual Farmer-Neighbor Dinner is Happening in West Valley, April 12th
We live in farm country. It’s a beautiful place of rolling hills, wide open fields and such a natural bounty that our farming community is exceptionally diverse. This means you can find various types of produce, milk and meat products close to home. Having a good relationship between farmers and their communities is key to keeping the flow moving forward. And what better way to get to know our local farmers than the Cattaraugus County Agricultural Annual Farmer-Neighbor Dinner, happening April 12 at the West Valley Fire Hall (9091 Route 240) starting at 5:30pm.
EllicottvilleNOW had the great opportunity to speak with event coordinator Deborah Miller about the upcoming event and what makes it so unique.
eNOW: This is the 11th Annual Farmer-Neighbor dinner; how did the event get started?
DEBORAH: The Cattaraugus County Ag and Farmland Protection Board wanted a way to showcase Ag in the County. A sub-group from this board was formed and they created the Farmer-Neighbor Dinner.
eNOW: What is the cost of attendance and where can tickets be purchased?
DEBORAH: The cost is $25 per dinner and tickets can be purchased by contacting the Cattaraugus County Department of Economic Development, Planning and Tourism: Lisa Wilson 716-938-2242. But hurry! We are very close to being sold out!
eNOW: Could you let us in on this year's menu?
DEBORAH: The dinner is prepared from all locally grown items from around Cattaraugus County and surrounding areas. This year’s dinner will include items such as beef, turkey, bison meatballs, craft beer, upstate milk as well as other items.
eNOW: There are usually exhibitors there to talk with attendees; can you share some of who will be exhibiting this year?
DEBORAH: Of course, we have a lot of great farms that will be exhibiting this year. There is Farm Credit East, The Evans Agency, Cattaraugus County Soil & Water District, Cornell Co-op Extension, NY Sustainable AG Working Group and others.
eNOW: What makes this unique event important to the community?
DEBORAH: Cattaraugus County is home to a vibrant and diverse agricultural industry in which good communication is essential to developing and maintaining good relationships between farm and non-farm neighbors. The Farmer-Neighbor Dinner event is a way to bring the county’s farmers and their neighbors together for a night of fellowship and understanding. It will also be a way for the county’s farmers and businesses to showcase what they have to offer each other.
Thank you Deborah for taking the time to speak with us about the event and all the great things it has to offer. To learn more about the Cattaraugus County Agricultural Development or to join in on any of their great workshops, visit agcatt.com.
