- By Dan Veaner
- Around Town
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The event was planned so that you could go to all three within one day, or spread out the events over the weekend. Rain marred the events, but people did turn out anyway. The rain affected the winery the least, because their event was largely indoors. Indian Chimney Farm reported about 600 people came to visit.
Susan Rosenkoetter
Baker's Acres Apple Festival featured cider making, Jack Flick's petting zoo, Cayuga Nature Center reptiles, apples you could pick yourself, Cheryl the Clown, storytelling by Susan Rosenkoetter, a visit by the Cortland SPCA, a scavenger hunt and face painting and apple pies by the 4H Cultural Exchange Club. Kendra's Cafe had candy, popcorn, caramel apples and other treats plus a chicken barbecue buffet in the Garden Room. Tractor rides were offered for one dollar.
Petting Zoo
Peter and Tacie Saltonstall opened King Ferry Winery for two days of events. "We're doing free wine tastings and people learn about all our different wines. There are twelve different wines. People can try six," explained Tacie.
Wine tastings
"We're conducting tours through the winery. We have ice cream for the kids. We also have a band called 'Restless' Sunday afternoon." Sunday also featured a chicken barbecue.
Owner Peter Saltonstall and Lite 97.3 Broadcaster Kevin English
Kevin English broadcasted live from the winery on WYXL Lite 97.3 . With a wireless microphone he was able to report from all over the event.
Ms. Saltonstall added, "We're educating people about what happens on our side of the lake, the East side of Cayuga Lake. We have so much going on with MacKensie Childs in Aurora, which is fabulous. And then we have the new Pumpkin Hill bistro."
Beware!
Meanwhile Indian Chimney Farm was celebrating a blessed event that occurred a week earlier. A week earlier, on October 2, a cria (baby alpaca) had been born. Chris and Kim Grant ran a contest to name the new addition to their herd. That was only part of the Open Farm Days event.
Helen GriffithsHelen Griffiths, of Willseyville, demonstrated yarn making on her spinning wheel. She spins yarn and knits items from dog and cat hair from her own pets, as well as buffalo and other animals. Naturally she was spinning alpaca yarn at Open Farm Days. Ray Reynolds brought a sampling of the 450 varieties of heirloom apples he grows.
Dan KonowalowDan Konowalow had raspberries from Morrow Creek Farm for visitors to taste. Early Sunday morning the 2nd annual Alpaca 5K and 1 mile fun run was held. About six runners were awarded prizes. There were nature walks around the farm on both days. May items made of fine, soft alpaca wool were for sale.
Name a cria
Kim Grant picked the winning name a few days after the event. Her husband Chris read the names to her without saying who had submitted each name. The couple awarded a prize to the winner, Kallista Hachadoorian, of Woodside, NY. The winning name is "Sir Leap-a-lot." Chris reports, "When we asked him if that name was OK, he jumped straight up into the air."
Sir Leap-a-lot and his Mom
"We're going to also send prizes to a few runners-up, who gave great names," said Chris Grant. Each of the 106 entries are being given a discount coupon to attend one of the two upcoming events in November and December.
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