Area farms receive NYS Agricultural Society's Bicentennial Farm Award

Area farms receive NYS Agricultural
Society's Bicentennial Farm Award

Brown's Berry Patch and Orchard Dale Fruit Farms in Waterport and Colby Homestead Farms in Ogden were named as two 2006 Bicentennial Farms, for over 200 years of continuous family ownership. The eleven 2006 Bicentennial Farm families were honored as part of the 175th Annual Agricultural Forum of the New York State Agricultural Society, held January 11 in Syracuse. Each family received a governor's proclamation and an exterior farm sign; the award is sponsored by Farm Credit Associations of New York State.

The Brown Family (l-r) seated Sarah, Margy, Claire and Deborah Brown; standing: Bill Lipinski, Farm Credit Associations of NYS (award sponsor), Robert Brown III, Eric Brown, Robert Brown II and Dick Peterson, president, NYS Agricultural Society.

Brown's Perry Patch/ Orchard Dale Fruit Farms
In 1804 Elijah Brown bought 100 acres along the Oak Orchard River that leads to Lake Ontario between Buffalo and Rochester. He died while moving his family by boat to the farm. His wife, Bathshua Brown, her five sons and seven daughters settled the farm in the unbroken woods, and Elijah Jr. planted the first apple trees in the area. Since then, the family and the farm have adapted to two centuries of agricultural change.

In 1895, Harry and Pearl Brown named the farm Orchard Dale Fruit Farms and began to specialize in growing fruit. Harry sold his flock of sheep to buy the first quince trees, and the farm was known as the largest quince orchard in the world with more than 60 acres.

Over time the farm has changed its focus. In 1900, apples were shipped to New York City and Europe. Eventually, production shifted to more fruit for processing and canning. Then in 1980 strawberries, raspberries and blueberries were planted for u-pick, and the farm returned to growing fruit for the fresh market.

In 1984 the family opened Brown's Berry Patch Retail Farm Market with pick-your-own fruit, and in 2000 it added the Barnyard Adventure, a children's discovery playground.

Robert II and his brother, Eric, and their wives, Deborah and Margy, are the seventh generation. This year Robert R. Brown III will graduate from Cornell and become the eighth generation to continue what Bathshua Brown began.

The Colby Family (l-r): front on floor: Chadwick and Camille Colby; seated: Sarah, Colette, Reta and Jean Colby and standing: Bill Lipinski, Farm Credit Associations of NYS (award sponsor), Alex, Robert, Margarita and Chuck Colby, Dick Peterson, president, NYS Agricultural Society.

Colby Homestead Farms
When Abraham Colby made the six-week journey from Salisbury, New Hampshire, to Ogden, he brought with him the legacy of a family that had already been in the United States for 170 years. Once in New York, he bought 100 acres for $2 an acre in what was originally the Town of Northampton. He cleared a farm out of a forest, participated in town government as an assessor and then as the first Town Clerk of Ogden.

Second generation James Colby, brought the first herd of registered Jerseys to the area and built the most modern barns of the time. The third generation, Oscar, served as a soldier in the Civil War and when he returned home, spent time serving as Justice of the Peace, as the farm declined.

Alexander, the fourth generation, improved the farm's performance, increased farm holdings and diversified the crops. James A. Colby, the sixth generation, was the first Colby to go to college. He and his wife, Reta, worked to incorporate good business practices, enhance environmental stewardship and grow the farm business.

Today, Colby Homestead Farms is operated by Jim's sons, Charles and Robert, along with Robert's wife, Sharon. Their sister, Jean, developed a farm market that operated in the 1980s and '90s. In 2006, Robert and Sharon's daughter, Sarah, graduated from college and joined the family business with 1,100 acres of diverse crops.

The Colbys have been leaders in Farm Bureau, commodity cooperatives, local government, church and community. Three of the family members are graduates of LEAD New York. Every generation has possessed a love of the land and a tradition of progressive farming practices.

The New York Agricultural Society is over 700 members strong and growing, played an instrumental role in establishing agricultural organizations in New York, including Cornell University's College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, the Department of Agriculture and Markets, the New York State Fair, and LEAD New York.

For information or to join the NYS Agricultural Society visit www.nysagsociety.org or contact Executive Secretary, Penny Heritage, at penny@nysagsociety.org, (518) 384-1715.