What’s New at Empire Farm Days

From Wind Energy to Equine Chiropractic -
Look What’s New at the 2012 Empire Farm Days August 7-9

From wind energy to equine chiropractic, the 79th Empire Farm Days’ promises exciting new products and activities along with returning favorites at the 300-acre event August 7-9 at Rodman Lott & Son Farms in Seneca Falls, NY.

New features at the show this year include a Wind Energy Center and presentations by manufacturers making equipment suitable for farm, residential and community power generation.

The show is sporting new miniature Sukup grain bin Info Booths, staffed by FFA students. The booths have the Official Empire Farm Days programs, maps, and information on demonstrations, activities and exhibits. The 15-feet-tall booths are provided by AN Martin Grain Systems.

The New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health (NYCAMH) will be offering PTO safety demonstrations that illustrate the power of a PTO driveline and the best ways to prevent PTO-related injury or death. NYCAMH also has an exhibit of ergonomic tool prototypes that are being tested on farms in New York.

DairyProfit Seminars on farmstead cheesemaking, technologies for herd and crop management, strategies for financially sustainable farm businesses, and group-housed dairy calf systems will provide a wealth of knowledge from more than a dozen farmers, educators and dairy industry leaders.

A new style of agricultural plastics recycling baler will be demonstrated twice a day each day by the Cornell University Recycling Agricultural Plastics Project (RAPP). RAPP will also have samples of new products made from recycled black and white farm plastics.

There is a new Hunting & Fishing Center and the farm pond is getting in the act with daily in-water “You Can Save Your Own Life” life jacket demonstrations. The 2012 New York Sea Grant Clean & Safe Sailboat will have information on aquatic invasive species on the north end of the showgrounds.

“Sparks,” a Certified Therapy Dog is sure to be a popular addition to the NYS Grange Family Center’s daily programs featuring healthy living, the NYS Grange Youth, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Seneca County, musical entertainment.

The New York Farm Bureau Family Center will have new information and interactive exhibits on New York’s sheep and cabbage production plus a special safety education center. The USDA is celebrating its 150th anniversary with resources available from its eight service agencies.

Empire Farm Days’ Equine Center live horse seminars include the opportunity to learn from equestrian competitor and judge David Phillips, New York Reined Cow Horse Association founders and trainers Mike Bednarek and Harry Hurd, and equine chiropractor Dr. Michael B. Priestman as he works on horses from Westwind Farms.

Popular returning favorite exhibits and activities include the full range of agricultural equipment on display and working in the field plus the opportunity for test drives of GPS and compact tractors and ATVs. Demonstrations feature live cattle handling with Cornell University Beef Extension Specialist Dr. Mike Baker other meat goat fitting and care with Todd Farms. The “Old Iron” antique tractor parade goes daily at 2pm.

This is the 25th anniversary of the Rodman Lott family hosting the Northeast’s largest outdoor agricultural trade show at their farm southwest of Seneca Falls, NY. The annual event attracts 600-plus exhibitors and more than 70,000 visitors and is the largest show of its kind in the Northeast.

Show hours are 9am-5pm on Tuesday, August 7 and Wednesday, August 8, and 9am-4pm on Thursday, August 9; admission is free; parking is $10.

Find more details online at www.empirefarmdays.com or contact Empire Farm Days Show Manager Melanie Wickham, 877-697-7837, mwickham@empirefarmdays.com.

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