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!

Residents of the Children’s Barnyard

By: Keith Rohlman, Public Programs Intern

The other day, Kajsa and I decided we needed to introduce y’all to the new residents of our Children’s Barnyard. So the other day, I got out before the school groups arrived to take some photos of our four-legged friends...and the chickens, too. They were all a little antsy to be fed, but some of them were nice enough to pose for some pictures.

First, we have Hansel and Gretel, our two Cheviot lambs that were born at The Farmers’ Museum on April 25th. They were a little shy, but after enough tries I finally managed to get both of them in the same photo, which is more than I can say for the goats.

We have two breeds of goat at the barn. First off we have three Boer goats named Holly, Ginger and Henrietta. They were born on the first of March and are on loan from the Baker Family of the Just Kidding Farm in Richfield Springs.
Here is one of the Boer goats:

We also have Tessa, who is an Alpine dairy goat. She was born on April 14th and is on loan from Karen Fisher of Swamp Hill Farm in Jordanville. The goats were really fidgety this morning, so it was hard for me to get the shots I did. They prefer to be in the yard running around.
Here is Tessa:

Next, we have a Brown Swiss Heifer Calf named Corabelle. She was born on March 6th, and is on loan from Lester and Joanne Tyler of the Sunny Acres farm in Milford. Corabelle was very calm and also really curious about my camera. I think it looked tasty to her, so I’m glad I kept some distance from her pen.

And then we have the chickens. They’re Sussex Chickens and were hatched on March 2nd. They really didn’t like me in their cage, and I only managed one shot of them not running around like a bunch of, well, chickens. Of course it might have something to do with how big I am, but I’m not sure.

The Children's Barnyard is open through Labor Day Weekend!

Daily Workshops Coming to The Farmers’ Museum

By: Keith Rohlman, Public Programs Intern

I’m excited to announce that starting July 5th, The Farmer’s Museum will be offering daily workshops on different crafts from the 1840s. All of the workshops will start at 1:00 pm sharp, and you can sign up in advance or on the day you choose to visit the museum. Sign up sheets will be in the building where the craft takes place.

On Mondays our blacksmith, Steve Kellogg, will be instructing a lucky few in how to forge your very own clothing hook for your home.

On Tuesdays our pharmacist, Patrick MacGregor, will be instructing visitors in the methods used in the 1840s to craft medicines.

Wednesday is a double-header! Gwen Miner will be showing us all how to bake in a hearth oven, and Wayne Coursen will be showing us how to mow with a scythe. And, last but certainly not least, Ted Shuart will be giving lessons on printing with a Washington press.

These workshops only cost $10, and you can sign up in the building where the workshop is held.  If you have questions, or would like to reserve a spot in advance of your visit, please call Kajsa Sabatke at 607-547-1453.

The New Calf Has a Name!

By: Keith Rohlman, Public Programs Intern

Hi, everyone! I thought I’d first take the opportunity to introduce myself. My name is Keith Rohlman and I am the new Public Programs Intern for The Farmers Museum. I am from smack-dab in the middle of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, from a town called Mount Pleasant. I am also an incoming student to the Cooperstown Graduate Program, so I’ll probably get to know a few of you over the next few years, and vice versa.

Anyways, to the important stuff: the new calf’s name. As you all know, on April 27th we began a contest to name our new calf, and we have chosen the winner. Drum roll, please.

And the winner is…

Hugh MacDougall!!

Hugh MacDougall is the Corresponding Secretary of the James Fenimore Cooper Society and he suggested we name the calf “Seraphina,” after James Fenimore Cooper’s cow.

We don’t know a lot about the original Seraphina. But, we do know that she was alive sometime around the 1830s and ‘40s, and she had a friend --a horse named Pumpkin. Pumpkin got his name from one of his chores: taking pumpkins to Seraphina for her food.

Well, to make a long story short, Congratulations Hugh! And for those of you who want to know, Seraphina translates to “Little Fiery One” and is derived from the name of the highest choir of angels, the Seraphim.