SENECA FALLS - With rich soil and an abundant water supply in the Finger Lakes, a great deal of land has long been dedicated to farming and raising crops for use locally and on the national level.
Glenn Gaston / Special to The Citizen
Farm equipment enthusiasts check out the old Farmall equipment at the Empire Farm Days Wednesday morning.
Farm equipment enthusiasts check out the old Farmall equipment at the Empire Farm Days Wednesday morning.
And for 74 years every summer, the Empire Farm Days have been there for those dedicated farmers who work the land.
During its first 54 years, the event moved from place to place throughout the central New York region, but for the last 20 years it has been situated on Rodman Lott & Sons Farms in Seneca Falls.
“This has been our long time home,” Melanie Wickham, show manager, said. “We settled here for a couple of years but it has really worked out well. There is good access here and we have been able to work out a lease with the Lott family and I think it has really worked out for everyone involved.”
The Empire Farm Days continues with one simple goal: to reach members of the farming community with the most recent technology and information as the science of farming and agriculture evolves.
With more than 600 exhibitors from all over the country, there is a little bit of everything.
“We are the biggest show in the Northeast,” Wickham said. “Our main purpose is to let people come here and look around and see what is out there and what is new and give them the opportunity to do this all in one place and see so much. It's like a big trade show, really. There really isn't anything else like this around here, a place where farmers can see so much and get so much information that will help them be successful in agriculture.”
Wickham estimated the show draws 60,000 to 70,000 people a year, and not only from central New York, but from all over the country.
“We get people from New York, New England, Pennsylvania, everywhere,” Wickham said. “I think word of mouth has really helped this to grow, and, again, there is really nothing like this anywhere else.”
More than 75 acres is taken up by exhibitors showing their wares, and Cayuga County was well represented and has been for a number of years.
“We first came here in '92,” said Jim Yonkers of Central Equipment LLC, based in Weedsport. “It has been a good way to let people know we are here and this is what we do and this is what we can do for them. I think it has really helped us to expand and year after year you get to know who people are and they come to you and we always get a few new ones, too.”
There are a wide variety of Cayuga County businesses on hand, while Central Equipment LLC deals with tanks and sprayers, R.L.S. Structures, Inc., located in Cato, deals with post frame structures and steel roofing and siding.
“We've been here since it was conceived, about 20 years,” said Les Beck, R.L.S. sales manager. “It has helped us tremendously. It gets us a lot of exposure. We have customers within 100 miles radius of this spot and they come to us when they are ready to put up a new barn or whatever they may be looking for. It helps to build relationships with customers.”
This wide variety of displays and vendors on hand to answer questions is one aspect of the show that really appeals to local farmers.
“You get to see a little bit of everything,” said Will Forney, of Groton. “There are a lot of people here that know what they are talking about and a lot of equipment and even if you don't buy anything it is well worth a look.”
The show also tries to offer up some fun and informative information, as well.
With several daily presentations by Cornell University, information was available about a number of topics, including insect control, dairy seminars, organics, bioenergy and veterinary medicine.
There were also a number of entertaining demonstrations and contests such as hay raking and bailing, compact tractor rides and a tractor operating contest and welding contest.
“We also try to make it a lot of fun,” Wickham said. “We've expanded our ride and drive with the compact trucks and four-wheelers this year. We try to do things that are a little different and that will make this a fun experience.”
Don Bowden, a lifelong farmer who has been working the land in Weedsport for 77 years, said that year after year the show is an enjoyable experience.
“I try to make it here every year,” Bowden said. “I'm still a full-time farmer, so it is nice to take a day off and walk around and see all the new equipment and hear the news and talk to people and shop around a little.”
If you go
What: Empire Farm Days
When: Continues today, Aug. 9 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Rodman Lott & Son Farms, Route 414, Seneca Falls
For details: Call (877) 697-7837 or visit www.empirefarmdays.com
During its first 54 years, the event moved from place to place throughout the central New York region, but for the last 20 years it has been situated on Rodman Lott & Sons Farms in Seneca Falls.
“This has been our long time home,” Melanie Wickham, show manager, said. “We settled here for a couple of years but it has really worked out well. There is good access here and we have been able to work out a lease with the Lott family and I think it has really worked out for everyone involved.”
The Empire Farm Days continues with one simple goal: to reach members of the farming community with the most recent technology and information as the science of farming and agriculture evolves.
With more than 600 exhibitors from all over the country, there is a little bit of everything.
“We are the biggest show in the Northeast,” Wickham said. “Our main purpose is to let people come here and look around and see what is out there and what is new and give them the opportunity to do this all in one place and see so much. It's like a big trade show, really. There really isn't anything else like this around here, a place where farmers can see so much and get so much information that will help them be successful in agriculture.”
Wickham estimated the show draws 60,000 to 70,000 people a year, and not only from central New York, but from all over the country.
“We get people from New York, New England, Pennsylvania, everywhere,” Wickham said. “I think word of mouth has really helped this to grow, and, again, there is really nothing like this anywhere else.”
More than 75 acres is taken up by exhibitors showing their wares, and Cayuga County was well represented and has been for a number of years.
“We first came here in '92,” said Jim Yonkers of Central Equipment LLC, based in Weedsport. “It has been a good way to let people know we are here and this is what we do and this is what we can do for them. I think it has really helped us to expand and year after year you get to know who people are and they come to you and we always get a few new ones, too.”
There are a wide variety of Cayuga County businesses on hand, while Central Equipment LLC deals with tanks and sprayers, R.L.S. Structures, Inc., located in Cato, deals with post frame structures and steel roofing and siding.
“We've been here since it was conceived, about 20 years,” said Les Beck, R.L.S. sales manager. “It has helped us tremendously. It gets us a lot of exposure. We have customers within 100 miles radius of this spot and they come to us when they are ready to put up a new barn or whatever they may be looking for. It helps to build relationships with customers.”
This wide variety of displays and vendors on hand to answer questions is one aspect of the show that really appeals to local farmers.
“You get to see a little bit of everything,” said Will Forney, of Groton. “There are a lot of people here that know what they are talking about and a lot of equipment and even if you don't buy anything it is well worth a look.”
The show also tries to offer up some fun and informative information, as well.
With several daily presentations by Cornell University, information was available about a number of topics, including insect control, dairy seminars, organics, bioenergy and veterinary medicine.
There were also a number of entertaining demonstrations and contests such as hay raking and bailing, compact tractor rides and a tractor operating contest and welding contest.
“We also try to make it a lot of fun,” Wickham said. “We've expanded our ride and drive with the compact trucks and four-wheelers this year. We try to do things that are a little different and that will make this a fun experience.”
Don Bowden, a lifelong farmer who has been working the land in Weedsport for 77 years, said that year after year the show is an enjoyable experience.
“I try to make it here every year,” Bowden said. “I'm still a full-time farmer, so it is nice to take a day off and walk around and see all the new equipment and hear the news and talk to people and shop around a little.”
If you go
What: Empire Farm Days
When: Continues today, Aug. 9 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Rodman Lott & Son Farms, Route 414, Seneca Falls
For details: Call (877) 697-7837 or visit www.empirefarmdays.com
