A fine late summer Sunday set the stage for the 2006 Family Farm Festival at Epworth Center in High Falls, New York. It was the third year for the event, which is organized by the Hudson Valley Ulster County Chapter of the Weston A. Price Foundation. Registry officers Cynthia Creech, Dianne Lang, and Phil Lang spent the day manning the Registry's display and talking to a steady stream of visitors. Many of those visitors were attracted by a pen full of 3-4 month old Randall heifers from Howland Homestead Farm, "Black Eyed Susan", "Coleen", "Madison", and "Molly". The Festival drew a large crowd from opening to closing, and there was something for everyone.
A highlight of the day was the "Celebrity Chef Competition", where locally (and sometimes regionally) famous chefs prepare their recipes using locally grown ingredients, especially grass-fed meats. Festival goers can buy "Taste Tickets", entitling them to samples, and the ability to vote for their favorite dish. This year's celebrity chefs were: Anita Eisenhauer, American Bounty Restaurant using Valley Farmers Beef; Ric Orlando, New World Home Cooking serving Skyland Farm Chevon; and Francesco Tonelli, Chef and Food Photographer cooking with Elysian Fields Farm Pork.
Scheduled speakers talked about food and farming topics, and live music was provided by local groups. There was an abundance of vendors and exhibitors, more than 60 in all, one of course being the Randall Cattle Registry, Inc. There were activities for children, horse-drawn wagon rides, a single ox, food concessions, fiber demonstrations, and much more. There were also baby chicks, piglets, dairy goats, sheep, rabbits, and calves.
A highlight of the day was the "Celebrity Chef Competition", where locally (and sometimes regionally) famous chefs prepare their recipes using locally grown ingredients, especially grass-fed meats. Festival goers can buy "Taste Tickets", entitling them to samples, and the ability to vote for their favorite dish. This year's celebrity chefs were: Anita Eisenhauer, American Bounty Restaurant using Valley Farmers Beef; Ric Orlando, New World Home Cooking serving Skyland Farm Chevon; and Francesco Tonelli, Chef and Food Photographer cooking with Elysian Fields Farm Pork.
Scheduled speakers talked about food and farming topics, and live music was provided by local groups. There was an abundance of vendors and exhibitors, more than 60 in all, one of course being the Randall Cattle Registry, Inc. There were activities for children, horse-drawn wagon rides, a single ox, food concessions, fiber demonstrations, and much more. There were also baby chicks, piglets, dairy goats, sheep, rabbits, and calves.
Family Farm Festival 2006
Epworth Center
High Falls, New York
September 10, 2006
Epworth Center
High Falls, New York
September 10, 2006
Clicking On Any Photo On This Page Will Pop Up a Full Sized Version
The young calves loved the attention from visitors
The main route into the Festival was lined with vendors and exhibitors
"Coleen", "Madison", "Black Eyed Susan", and "Molly" resting
The walkway to the dining hall
was filled with people all day
was filled with people all day
Vendors' and exhibitors' displays spilled over into an adjoining field
A beautiful day with a view of the Catskills in the background
And Demonstrations, Exhibits, And Vendors Galore.
There were four groups of musicians who performed using solar power
The horse-drawn wagon rides
were filled up all day long
were filled up all day long
The Festival had many things
for the children to do and see
for the children to do and see
The line-up of celebrity chefs serve their dishes in the dining hall
There were often long lines of people waiting for a sample
A patron has a chance to talk with the chefs during a rare lull
Glouchester Old Spot piglets...
Dairy goats for petting...
A very patient Angora rabbit...
There Was A Celebrity Chef Competition...
Silkie and Barred Rock chicks...
Randall calves of course...
Lots of sheep...and much more
Catskill Native Nursery sold colorful baskets and native plants
Slow Food Hudson Valley set
up a tent at the Festival
up a tent at the Festival
Wild Roots Farm brought an Icelandic sheep and spun wool
Hand crafting bows and arrows, part of a display by Red Fox Friends
The Feathered Friends 4H Poultry Club ran many activities for kids
There Were Lots Of Animals...
The High Falls Food Co-op
ran a busy food concession
ran a busy food concession
Shawangunk Ridge Farm brought wool, candles, soap, and more
The Hudson Valley Biodiesel Co-op talked about Vegetable Waste Oil
The Randall Cattle Registry, Inc.
The Official Website of Randall Cattle
The Official Website of Randall Cattle
The Registry's display at the
Family Farm Festival
Family Farm Festival
A single Devon ox drew
lots of attention
lots of attention
