Master Gardeners Now Offering FREE Xeriscape Garden Tours

Come learn more about our magnificent Xeriscape garden and how you can start your very own! Ulster County’s Master Gardener’s are now offering free tours of their award winning Xeriscape Garden located in front of the Jacob A. Hasbrouck Building on the SUNY Ulster Campus in Stone Ridge. This garden was established in 2000 and includes several impressive varieties of plantings. Tours will be guided by trained Master Gardener’s and are available evenings and weekends for groups or one-on-one. Take in the sights of our spectacularly lush and colorful garden that features flourishing perennial herbs, robust shrubs and captivating flowers.

The Xeriscape Garden is an interactive teaching tool in the selection of heat tolerant, water-wise plants, integrated pest management and alternative landscaping techniques. Master Gardeners will explain the principles and eco-benefits of this drought resistant garden design and planting techniques which help to create this incredible gardening spectacle. All participants will receive a comprehensive list of water-wise plants.

For more information or to schedule a tour please call Master Gardener Coordinator, Dona Crawford at 845-340-3990 or email dm282@cornell.edu.

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FREE Healthy Eating Habits & Food Budgeting Program

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County’s Eat Smart New York Program is pleased to announce a new program “Healthy Nutrition Habits”, a free six part series will run continuously every Monday, from 1:00pm to 2:00pm. Sessions will take place at the CCEUC Extension Education Center located at 10 Westbrook Lane in Kingston.

This program is open to all food stamp participants and low to moderate income families and individuals residing in Ulster County. Sessions will include various topics including food budgeting, serving sizes, learning about food groups, eating healthier by making better food choices, food safety and more! Participants will gain valuable kitchen skills through hands-on food demonstrations with CCEUC Nutrition Program Educator, Danielle J. Garris. One on one session’s in the home can be arranged for those without transportation.

All participants who complete six sessions of the program will receive a Certificate of Completion from the Cornell Cooperative Extension Ulster County’s Eat Smart New York Program.

For more information or to attend please call Barbara Grumberg at 845-340-3990.

Ulster County 4-H Youth Program Announce 2009 Master Showmanship Recipient

Katherine DeWitt, 15 years old of Accord, NY was awarded the 2009 4-H Master Showmanship title for this year’s Ulster County Fair on Sunday, August 2. DeWitt qualified for the contest by excelling in Senior Master Showmanship in the areas of Dairy Cattle and Dogs which enabled her to advance to the final competition which included showmanship for Dairy Cattle, Goats, Sheep, Poultry, Dogs, and Rabbits. Katherine has been showing cows since the age of 6 and a member of Ulster County 4-H since the age of 8. She is the daughter of Janet and Meade DeWitt of Accord.

DeWitt attends Rondout Valley High School and is a member of the National Honor Society. Upon graduation she plans to pursue an education in Animal Science at Cornell University, and plans to attend veterinary school to become a large animal veterinarian.

Katherine is very active at her family’s farm, Domino Farm in Accord, where she owns 15 registered Jersey cows. Each year, Katherine shows her award winning Jerseys and other breeds at the Ulster County Fair. In 2007, she won a national award from the American Jersey Cattle Association, placing 6th in the nation for amount of milk produced by a youth-owned Jersey. In 2008, she received First Place for Herdsmanship along with several other state level awards at the New York State Fair in Syracuse. In June 2009, Katherine was crowned Dairy Princess of Ulster County to represent the number one agricultural industry in New York State. Her responsibilities as Dairy Princess include a wide range of public relations activities that promote the dairy industry and raise awareness of the health benefits of dairy products.

4-H Master Showmanship encourages mastery with a variety of animals and recognizes excellence in showmanship. Judges score each 4-H Member on their showmanship skills which includes handling and their knowledge of the species. The highest composite score earns the title of Master Showman.

4-H Livestock Awards Results from the Ulster County Fair

Each year Ulster County 4-H Youth members gather at the Ulster County Fair Grounds to show livestock that they have raised and cared for. Youth and their 4-H project animal are evaluated. The awards/ribbons include Grand Champion, Best of Show, Excellent, Good, and Worthy. In Showmanship youth are judged on how they handle their animal and their knowledge of the species. The animal which most closely meets the particular standards for the class is ultimately awarded Grand Champion. All the animals presented to the judges are raised as a part of the 4-H Animal Science Program.

Goat
Grand Champion Market Goat awarded to Lorren Potter of New Paltz
Reserve Champion Market Goat awarded to Michelle Campbell of New Paltz
Grand Champion Dairy Goat awarded to Steve Potter of New Paltz
Grand Champion Pet Goat awarded to Garrett Igoe of Lake Katrine
Reserve Champion Pet Goat awarded to Nina Igoe of Lake Katrine
Senior Goat Showmanship awarded to Lorren Potter of New Paltz
Junior Goat Showmanship awarded to Sara Bennett of Highland
Novice Goat Showmanship awarded to Michelle Campbell of New Paltz
Grand Champion Goat Handling awarded to Jessica Perez of New Paltz
Grand Champion Goat Other awarded to Nina Igoe of Lake Katrine
Reserve Champion Goat Other awarded to Lorren Potter of New Paltz

Sheep
Grand Champion Market Lamb awarded to Nina Igoe of Lake Katrine
Reserve Champion Market Lamb awarded to Garrett Igoe of Lake Katrine
Senior Sheep Showmanship awarded to Nina Igoe of Lake Katrine
Junior Sheep Showmanship awarded to Garrett Igoe of Lake Katrine

Poultry
Grand Champion Standard awarded to Michaela Labare of New Paltz for her Campine Hen
Reserve Standard Champion awarded to Elissa Mardiney of Rosendale for her Jersey Giant Hen
Grand Champion Bantam awarded to Elissa Mardiney of Rosendale for her Porcelain D’Uccle Hen
Reserve Champion Bantam awarded to Michaela Labare of New Paltz for her Buff Brahma Cock
Grand Champion Waterfowl awarded to Erica Bell of Accord for her Pekin Drake Duck
Reserve Champion Waterfowl awarded to Michaela Labare of New Paltz for her Call Duck
Grand Champion Turkey awarded to Erica Bell of Accord for her Royal Palm Tom
Reserve Champion Turkey awarded to Erica Bell of Accord for her Royal Palm Hen
Grand Champion Avian awarded to Kristen Nerone of High Falls for her Pea Hen
Senior Poultry Showmanship awarded to Erica Bell of Accord
Junior Poultry Showmanship awarded to Joshua Holz of Phoenicia
Novice Poultry Showmanship awarded to Kalo Talley of Pine Hill

Dairy Cattle
Supreme Dairy awarded to Katherine DeWitt of Accord
Junior Champion Jersey awarded to Katherine DeWitt of Accord
Senior Champion Jersey awarded to Katherine DeWitt of Accord
Senior Showmanship awarded to Katherine DeWitt of Accord
Junior Showmanship awarded to Autumn Fitzpatrick of Accord
Junior Champion Holstein awarded to Christopher VanAken of Stone Ridge
Senior Champion Holstein awarded to Katherine DeWitt of Accord
Senior Champion Swiss awarded to David Bogart of Stone Ridge

Beef Cattle
Best of Breed Market Steer awarded to Christopher VanAken of Stone Ridge
Supreme Beef Grand Champion awarded to Christopher VanAken of Stone Ridge
Senior Beef Showmanship awarded to Christopher VanAken of Stone Ridge

Horse
High Point Rider Champion awarded to Marki-Lynn Sullivan of Poughkeepsie
Grand Champion Senior English Division awarded to Eliana Correll of New Paltz
Reserve Grand Champion Senior English Division awarded to Deanna Zajic of Pine Bush
Grand Champion Walk / Trot / Jog Division awarded to Joel Moskowitz of Olivebridge
Grand Champion Junior English awarded to Marki-Lynn Sullivan of Poughkeepsie
Reserve Grand Champion Junior English awarded to Jordan Upright of Gardiner

Swine
Grand Champion Hog awarded to Steven Potter of New Paltz
Reserve Champion Hog awarded to Lorren Potter of New Paltz
Senior Swine Showmanship awarded to Steven Potter of New Paltz
Swine Handler Showmanship awarded to Michelle Campbell of New Paltz

Rabbit
Grand Champion Breed awarded to Caitlyn Krieger of Saugerties for her Holland Lop
Reserve Champion Breed awarded to Marissa Miller of Kingston for her Mini Lop
Grand Champion Doe and Litter awarded to Kelsey Grimm of Saugerties
Grand Champion Reserve Doe and Litter awarded to Clara Seyfarth of Saugerties
Grand Champion Meat Fryer awarded to Courtney Weis of Gardiner
Reserve Champion Meat Roaster awarded to Kelsey Grimm of Saugerties
Grand Champion Pet awarded to Michelle Campbell of New Paltz
Grand Champion Reserve Pet awarded to Honour Butler of New Paltz
Senior Showmanship awarded to Erica Bell of Accord
Junior Showmanship awarded to Caitlyn Krieger of Saugerties
Novice Showmanship awarded to Renee Lacouette of Walkill

Dog
Grand Champion Obedience awarded to Michelle Campbell of New Paltz
Reserve Champion Obedience awarded to Elissa Mardiney of Rosendale
Grand Champion Grooming and Handling Level 1 awarded to Elissa Mardiney of Rosendale
Grand Champion Grooming and Handling Level 2 awarded to Bryan Huckeba of Kerhonkson
Grand Champion Grooming and Handling Level 3 awarded to Katherine DeWitt of Accord

Bowl and Pocket Pets
Division A awarded to Michelle Campbell of New Paltz for her Chinchilla
Division B awarded to Bryan Huckeba of Kerhonkson for his Rat
Division C awarded to Courtney Weis of Gardiner for her California King Snake

2009 Ulster County 4-H Livestock Auction Results

2009 4-H Auction Participants from L-R: Nina Igoe, Courtney Weis, Kelsey Grimm, Kristin Nerone, Lorren Potter, Elissa Mardiney, Steven Potter, Garrett Igoe and Erica Bell

The 2009 Ulster County 4-H Livestock Auction held at the Ulster County Fair Grounds on Saturday August 2 was a huge educational and financial success which raised over $16,000. Most of the funds collected are used by the participating 4-H Youth Members by investing the funds towards college and individual auction projects for the following year. A small portion from the sales is donated to the 4-H Auction Committee for programming costs.

All the animals offered are raised as a part of the 4-H Market Production Project. The 4-H youth members work tirelessly each year, attending educational meetings and keeping business records, to earn the privilege of participating in this event. Only the “Blue Ribbon” animals judged as excellent are sold at the livestock auction.

The buyers at the auction were:

Adams Fairacre Farms
John Ingram representing Ulster County Agricultural Society of New Paltz
Gary McDonald representing New Paltz Agway
Andrew Range
Charles Bell representing Bell Excavating of Accord
Brian Sawchuck
Bridgette Igoe
Cal and Diane Ruger representing Kleine Maus Farm of New Paltz
David Lotvin of Gardiner
Double H Farm of New Paltz
Bob DeStefano representing Dreamland Amusements of Stony Brook, NY
Emmanuel’s Market Place of Stone Ridge
Everette Payne
Joe McGovern
John Colosi
Joyce Amels
Kay and Ed Covert representing Tractor Supply Company of Highland
Kelders Farm of Kerhonkson
Lynn Fleming
Paul Vanderkruik
Wayne and Donna Grimm representing Rapid Tool Rental of New Paltz
Rita H. Klein
T.J. Baright

The following list includes the 4-H Youth Member participants and the animals they provided for the auction:

Goats
Lorren Potter of New Paltz
Steven Potter of New Paltz

Sheep
Garrett Igoe of Lake Katrine
Nina Igoe of Lake Katrine

Rabbits
Courtney Weis of Gardiner
Kelsey Grimm of Saugerties

Hogs
Lorren Potter of New Paltz
Steven Potter of New Paltz

Turkeys
Erica Bell of Accord

Ducks
Courtney Weis of Gardiner

Chickens
Elissa Mardiney of Rosendale
Kristin Nerone of High Falls

Here are the highlights of The 2009 Ulster County 4-H Livestock Auction.
Goat
Lorren Potter $2059.00 purchased by John Ingram representing Ulster County Agricultural Society, New Paltz

Sheep
Nina Igoe $2295.00 purchased by John Ingram representing Ulster County Agricultural Society, New Paltz

Rabbit
Courtney Weis $236.35 purchased by Gary MacDonald representing New Paltz Agway, New Paltz

Chicken
Elissa Mardiney $142.50 purchased by John Ingram representing Ulster County Agricultural Society, New Paltz

Hog
Steven Potter $1242.00 purchased by Bob DeStefano representing Dreamland Amusements of Stony Brook, NY

Turkey
Erica Bell $726.00 purchased by Emmanuel’s Market Place of Stone Ridge