Bedford Hills, NY – On Saturday, September 8th, 2018, over five hundred community members of all ages, including New York State Senator Terrence Murphy, New York State Assemblyman Kevin Byrne, Westchester County Legislator Michael B. Kaplowitz and Somers Town Supervisor Rick Morrissey attended the first annual Family Farm Festival at Stuart’s Fruit Farm in Somers, and celebrated the permanent protection of the farm with laughter and fun. The free and open-to-the public festival was co-sponsored by Westchester Land Trust and Somers Land Trust. Click here to view additional Family Farm Festival photos!

Festival goers hopped to the finish line at the end of potato sack races while children enjoyed activities including a scavenger hunt, making mud pies, face painting, decorating Westchester Land Trust “VegChester” t-shirts, navigating through a corn maze, and tossing a bean bag or two during a game of corn hole. Great music, provided by local band The Station Agents, was a highlight of the event. Regional food trucks Roaming Wood Fire Pizza, Waffle Box, Max Eatery, Sloppie Joes and King Kone were on hand serving a variety of delicious cuisine while samples of Betsy Stuart’s warm brown “Betsy” apple crisp were a hit. Sing Sing Kill Brewery’s craft beer and Fishkill Farm’s Treasury Cider also provided attendees with some of the best libations in the Hudson Valley.

“It was heartwarming to see hundreds of people turn out, despite the wet weather, to celebrate the permanent protection of Stuart’s Fruit Farm,” says Lori Ensinger, Westchester Land Trust President. “Westchester Land Trust is committed to protecting our most precious natural resources. This includes the air we breathe, the water we drink and local farmland, such as Stuart’s Fruit Farm. Thank you to all who joined us and to our funding partners New York State, Westchester County, The Town of Somers, Scenic Hudson Land Trust, and Somers Land Trust, our Family Farm Festival co-sponsor, for joining together with us to preserve this local gem,” she continued.  In April, Westchester Land Trust acquired, and extinguished the development rights to the farm, thereby ensuring that the land will always be available for agricultural use.

Other major festival supporters include Tinkergarten, Bionutrient Food Association- Westchester/NYC, Orienteering Unlimited, Somers LEO Club, Obercreek Brewery, Hayfields Market, and Patricia Johnson from Turtle Advocate.

ABOUT WESTCHESTER LAND TRUST

Since its founding in 1988, Westchester Land Trust (WLT) has preserved nearly 8,300 acres of open space including more than 700 acres of preserves owned by the organization which are free and open to the public year-round. Westchester Land Trust works with public and private partners to preserve land and to enhance the natural resources in Westchester and eastern Putnam counties—a densely populated region under persistent threat from the pressures of development. Through the use of conservation easements and outright acquisition, WLT’s efforts benefit the long-term health of these communities by safeguarding air quality, food supply and community character, as well as critical watershed areas. A 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, Westchester Land Trust relies on grants and individual donations to support its preservation and community outreach programs.

For more information about WLT, please visit westchesterlandtrust.org and connect with us on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/WLandTrust) and Instagram (@WestchesterLandTrust).