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

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