The Quest for Bean Babies

By: Jenna Peterson, School and Farm Programs Intern

The school year is coming to a close, which means that school tours at NYSHA are wrapping up. This year, students visiting had the opportunity to participate in the brand new Museum Quest activity. Museum Quest is a series of up to eleven stations scattered across the Farmers’ Museum and the Fenimore Art Museum, including the Mohawk Barkhouse and the newly relocated Seneca Log House.

Each station boasts its own theme, and lasts around twenty minutes. Museum Teachers lead students through activities like discovering just what 1840’s underwear looks like, learning how to barter and trade using limited supplies, or seeing what materials make up the art in the Thaw Gallery.

Last Wednesday, I got to teach the “Bean Babies” activity. Planting is such an important part of agricultural life, and being able to see a plant grow is always an amazing sight. The activity starts by looking through the gardens at Lippit Homestead. I asked kids to decide which plant was their favorite, and to tell me five words that described each one. This led to discussion of the parts of plants and seeds. Funny thing was, one of the visiting schools had just taken a test on plants, and knew a lot more than I did!
Once the kids taught me everything I had forgotten from 6^th grade biology, we moved to actually making the Bean Babies. It is pretty simple, but I think they are pretty neat. A damp cotton ball and a bean are put into a small plastic bag. The baggie is then put onto a string, and the bean baby necklace is complete. I had a handful of bean babies that had been made over the previous weeks, so the students could see just how quickly their beans would grow!

Even though things have been a bit chaotic, we have been thrilled to have so many students at the museums. Our record was 651 in one day! Around 3,500 students were able to participate in the Museum Quest program. We cannot wait to offer this program again next spring.

Next stop, Week-Long Experiences!

Celebrating our Carousel Volunteers

By: Keith Rohlman, Public Programs Intern

A few weeks ago the County Fair at the Museum had some special visitors: Karen Psilopoulis and Joseph Zupan and their students from Leptondale Elementary of Wallkill, New York. Now, you might be asking “why are these kids and their teachers special?” Well, it’s because they, along with other students from Wallkill, volunteered their time to help us make a nameplate for the Empire State Carousel. Not only that, but they are the first elementary students to visit since completing a nameplate. So, to celebrate their visit today, the students were treated to a ride and a special thank you from our Vice President for Education, Garet Livermore. Garet thanked both the students and their teachers for their hard work in helping us to decorate our special carousel. Gwen Feldt and her class from Plattekill Elementary visited on the 16th of June, and we thanked them for their hard work as well!

Our carousel has over 100 nameplates like the one carved by the students of Wallkill, but it still has many empty spots. So if you’d like to help us represent your hometown on the carousel, just contact Mary Margaret Kuhn to get the process started. Her e-mail address is m.kuhn@nysha.org and her phone number here at the museum is 607-547-1423. It is free to volunteer and there is only a $25 refundable security deposit for the plate we send to you. You can decorate the plate how you like and send it back, and then you too can be a part of creating the only museum exhibit you can ride!

Gypsy Pioneers help Heat Up the Night

By: John Buchinger, Associate Director of Education

I have lived in Cooperstown for about four years now. It is truly one of the most surprising little places I have ever lived. Meeting Will Green – local boy, hometown lawyer, #1 dad, and all-around quality fellow – has been one of the best parts of my move here. Will is also the driving force (and driving bass) behind the band Gypsy Pioneers, who will headline this Saturday at the museum’s newest event, Heat Up the Night: A Benefit for Area Schools and Programs at The Farmers’ Museum and the Fenimore Art Museum. Heat up the Night will help us deliver programs at reduced or no cost to area schools.

Here’s what Will had to say about the band:

 So Will, tell me a bit about how the GPs came into existence.
The Gypsies were a pick-up band that was put together for a send-off party. Our first gig took place at Bump Tavern at The Farmers’ Museum. Our drummer had never practiced with the band so he got some on-the-job training. We were well received and it led to the idea of seeing where we could take the group. From there we took to playing local venues and festivals.

Who makes up the GPs?
Tom Baron: vocals, guitar, mandolin
Sandee Peevers: guitar, vocals, mandolin
Orion Palmer: drums, vocals, ukulele
Will Walker: guitar, vocals
Jeanne Bennett-O’Dea: violin, mandolin, vocals
Will Green: bass, vocals
And finally some new guy named Tim Iverson playing keys

So you all have a strong local music connection?
We have a local, regional, and international presence. The majority of the members of the Gypsies are from Otsego County. Sandee Pevers is a jet-setting promoter with her company On Cue Artist for international acts so she brings that to the table. Tom Baron is from Syracuse and plays with several bands there, including the Milkweeds and Jemba. The rest of us are in several local bands, too many to mention.

Can you talk about your sound a bit?
Alt-Country (Wilco, Ryan Adams), Roots Rock and Country (the good stuff like Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson). We have a few originals that we play.

Where may folks have seen you in the past?
We have played Applefest in Fly Creek and the Smithy and the Hoffman Lane Bistro in Cooperstown.

So what are we going to see on Saturday the 27th?
The most recent iteration of the band will include Tim Iversen on organ, synth, piano, etc. The band will be rocking a little more, much like our recent gig at the Smithy.

Where can people check out your music?
We can be found on Facebook and at http://www.ninjatronic.com/gypsy-pioneers. We are streaming songs we are working on through SoundCloud that is updated weekly as editing and new takes are added to the songs we are working on.

Do members of the band have local connections that make playing this benefit meaningful?
I grew up in Otsego County as well as several members of the band and I remember taking field trips to The Farmers’ Museum when I was in school. I think today The Farmers’ Museum and NYSHA have even more to offer students so I hope we can get people to come out to support this important cause.

Thanks Will. We are looking forward to rockin’ out with you for a good cause this Saturday.

Besides the Gypsy Pioneers, Heat up the Night features area sensation and high school rockers Cheese of the Misty Ceremony, the amazing fire juggler Keith Leaf, a bonfire, and family games and entertainment. For details or tickets, call Karen Wyckoff at (607) 547-1410.

What to expect at Heat Up the Night

By: John Buchinger, Associate Director of Education
Do your kids like games of chance and skill? Do grown ups like free snacks and low cost entertainment? Do we all like FIRE JUGGLING?! HECK YEAH!

On February 27th the amazing fire juggler Keith Leaf will provide two shows at the Heat Up the Night event at the Main Barn at The Farmers’ Museum. According to Keith’s web site, his juggling odyssey began 10 years ago with a trip around the world and has never stopped. “THE FLAMING SLINKY OF DEATH, blazing meteor balls, fire dog leashes, flaming tennis rackets and fire staffs are some of the exotic props in his dynamic fire show.” Keith does a family show and has been selected for the excitement and spectacle of his juggling, but also for the wonderful spirit embodied in his comical show. Keith has performed at museums, colleges, festivals and on television.


So where will he juggle, you may ask? We will have all fire-related activities in the courtyard of the Main Barn at museum. A bonfire will be on hand to keep us warm and hot coffee and hot chocolate will be available from Cooperstown’s own Stagecoach Coffee.

Another local favorite is Cheese and The Misty Ceremony. This local band has a real following and even its own web presence. I personally will be requesting their rocking version of the Donna Summer’s “I will Survive.” (fast forward to 1:00 to avoid the warm-up)



There is much more to do at the event. We will have games, a raffle and time to mingle and chat with your friends. There will be free popcorn and cotton candy from Haggerty Ace Hardware, and BreweryOmmegang will be on hand for a tasting. All proceeds will go directly to schools for transportation or programming costs for both of our museums. Tickets are on sale now for $10 by calling 607-547-1410. NYSHA members, Facebook fans and readers of this blog get $1 off if you buy your tickets in advance. Kids under 12 are free.

Love Field Trips? Heat Up the Night!

By: John Buchinger, Associate Director of Education

Before my life as Associate Director of Education for The New York State Historical Association and The Farmers’ Museum, I was a teacher. A teacher who loved field trips. Not because it got me out of teaching, or because I used them to take trips to amusement parks, but because it was a way to engage kids in learning in a more participatory fashion. Almost every day of the year, The Farmers’ Museum and the Fenimore Art Museum provide programming to area and regional schools. Prices vary for admission from 4-6 bucks and most schools have little problem with this very affordable admission price. But in the last two years the skyrocketing cost of fuel and general budget tightening has threatened many schools with canceling these important visits.So on February 27th from 6-9 pm in The Louis C. Jones Center at The Farmers’ Museum, we are planning an awesome hootenanny to raise funds for area schools called Heat up the Night: A Benefit for Area Schools and Programs at the Farmers’ Museum and the Fenimore Art Museum. Heat up the Night will help us deliver programs at reduced or no cost to area schools. The night features area roots rock sensation The Gypsy Pioneers, high school rockers Cheese and the Misty Ceremony, the amazing fire juggler Keith Leaf, a bonfire, and family games and entertainment. The evening will feature free snacks and soda and water, but Ommegang will be on hand for more stout drinks and heartier fare will also be available for a small donation. Area sponsors currently include Brewery Ommegang, Stage Coach Coffee, and Stewart’s Shops. Tickets are on sale now for $10 by calling 607-547-1410. NYSHA members, Facebook Fans and readers off this blog get $1 off if you buy your tickets in advance. Kids under 12 are free and will get a free tattoo. We will also be raffling a Growler of Ommegang’s finest signed by their brewmaster!

The funds we raise will go primarily for transportation costs, but all needs will be considered. Funds will be made available immediately after the event, and interested schools can contact Karen Wyckoff at 607-547-1410 for details. Here are just a few of the schools and groups we have helped in the past two years!

Cooperstown Schools

Benton Hall Academy

Sydney Central Schools

Hancock Central Schools

Roxbury Central Schools

Franklin Central Schools

Stamford Central Schools

South Kortright Central Schools

Sydney Center Central Schools

Townsend Central Schools

Jefferson

Downsville

Delaware Big Buddy Programs

Otsego Head Start Schools