Dryden Dairy Day – A Great Way to Spend the Day – June 11th

Posted by Dustin Horton // June 1, 2011 // Articles

Dryden, NY pays tribute to farmers and the farming industry with a parade, entertainment, games, craft booths, food, and MILK and ICE CREAM for sale. Dairy Day, scheduled this year for Saturday, June 11th, begins with a parade down Main Street in Dryden at 9:30AM, followed by a day long celebration at Montgomery Park. At the park, dairy and agricultural education, as well as fun, continues throughout the day.

The theme this year is “Dairy Through the Ages”, with the parade dedicated to: Robert Carpenter, a respected and well known dairy farmer and Dryden Grange member of over 70 years, also other Grange members deceased this year: Clayton Bowker, Mary Goddard, Gerry Marquis and Emily Todd. They represent many years of membership, leadership and support of Grange programs.

Throughout the day, there will be activities at Montgomery Park for all. Milk and ice cream are sold at a drastically reduced price – MILK $.10 per 1/2 pint and ICE CREAM CONES $.25/scoop. These prices represent approximately what a farmer receives for his portion of milk in these products. “Summer” food (hot dogs, hamburgers, salt potatoes, chicken barbecue, etc.) will be available, but no soda is sold – this is DAIRY DAY!!

Other games and activities are planned throughout the day. Live entertainment at the gazebo, stories and kid’s shows in the Kids’ Tent, a hay ride, bale toss, petting zoo, and tractors – old and new will all be at the park. There are cows posted, colored by Dryden Kindergartners with the public invited to choose their favorite from each class.

Dryden Grange and the Dairy Day Committee appreciate and thank all the support received from area farmers, businesses and individuals. Without that, this event, celebrating Agriculture, the number one industry in Tompkins County, would not happen.

Schedule
PARADE – 9:30AM on Main Street – Theme: “Dairy Through the Ages”
Dedicated to: Robert Carpente, a respected and well known dairy farmer and Dryden and a Grange member of over 70 years. Also other members deceased this past year: Clayton Bowker, Mary Goddard, Gerry marquis and Emily Todd, representing many years of membership, leadership and support. Parade line up at 8:15 am at Empire Livestock, East Main St. Tompkins County Dairy Princess and her Court will be in the parade, will be introduced and will remain at Montgomery Park throughout the day.

Attractions at Montgomery Park – ALL Day!
Food Booths – Milk and Ice Cream for sale all day – Crafts and demonstrations – Live entertainment at the gazebo throughout the afternoon – Stories and entertainment in the Kids’ Tent – Cows Colored by Dryden kindergarten classes (Vote for your favorite) – Hay ride, Bale toss and tractors – Petting Zoo

Entertainment at Montgomery Park

KID STUFF

Cayuga Twister – awesome balloon figure maker guy EVER!
Nate & Kate Kid Show – music, juggling and more juggling
Summertime Stories – Dryden Library
Free Parking – Dryden Fire Hall and municipal parking lots, all within walking distance to the park.

Thanks to all who support this event. See them listed in the ads and at the park. Support them and say “Thanks!”

Before and After
Dryden Dairy Day was started as a community service project of Dryden Grange in 1985 with the goal to coordinate local businesses, organizations and dairy farmers and plan an educational day of fun and family geared entertainment – a day with a “Dairy” theme for both young andold!

Today that purpose remains basically the same – with the same result – families having fun and hopefully learning a little about agriculture as well. Dairy Day is more than just a one day event. With support from many sponsors, Dryden Grange and the Dairy Day Committee are able to help educate the public not only at Dairy Day, but before and after it as well.

An event sponsored by Dryden Grange and the Dairy Day Committee BEFORE Dairy Day is helping sponsor a farm visit to the Vaughn Sherman farm, Jerry Dell Farm, for Dryden 2nd graders, organized by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County. This is a “hands on” visit to build some understanding of agriculture and dairy farming. At Jerry Dell Farm, an organic dairy near Dryden, there are interactive stations for the kids where they learn about several aspects of farming and care of the animals, see the cows being milked, and view the calves and other big machinery and facilities on a wagon ride. This year the 2nd graders visited on June 7th.

And AFTER Dairy Day – – – Dryden Grange presents an annual scholarship, the Fay and Pauline Ballard Award, to a graduating Senior from this area, preferably a student with “Grange” roots – parents, grandparents or other relatives having had Grange membership. This scholarship was established in memory of the Ballards, long time Grange members, well known in the Dryden area.
Once again Dryden Grange thanks all who support this event and help make their plans a reality. See the Sponsor lists at the park and say “Thanks” with your support of them.