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History is Made!
Thousand Islands – Seaway Wine Trail Cuts The Ribbon to Business!
Watertown, NY. Thursday, May 24, 2007 became an important date in history for Jefferson
County’s Agricultural Industry. The ribbon was cut opening the Thousand Islands
– Seaway Wine Trail for business, the first time in Jefferson County’s history
that a wine trail has existed. The historic moment was celebrated at a ribbon cutting
ceremony near Wescott’s Beach State Park where the 78 mile long wine trail begins.
The ribbon cutting was followed by a reception at Yellow Barn Winery that featured wine
tasting opportunities from all three of Jefferson County’s wineries.
Steve Conaway, owner of Thousand Islands Winery near Alexandria Bay lead the ceremony.
Conaway thanked our State elected officials, NYS Senator James Wright, NYS Assemblyman
Darrel Aubertine, and NYS Assemblywoman Dede Scozzafava for their work in getting the
legislation passed to form the wine trail. Conaway noted that it usually takes two years
for wine trail legislation to be passed. The legislation for the Thousand islands
–Seaway Wine Trail was passed in a few short months.
Assemblyman Darrel Aubertine commented on what the development of a wine industry in
Jefferson County brings to our agricultural economy. The Assemblyman echoed the image of
Jefferson County that the Jefferson County Agricultural Development Corporation has been
championing, “Jefferson County is truly the land of milk, honey and wine!”.
Assemblywoman Scozzafava congratulated the wineries on their success and indicated her
excitement at the opportunity brought by the wineries for further economic development in
agriculture.
Jefferson County Board of Legislators Chairperson Kent Burto provided the
Legislature’s support for this growing industry. Chairperson Burto congratulated the
wineries on their successful efforts and noted the opportunities this creates for further
agricultural development of our land base in the County.
Jefferson County Agricultural Coordinator, Jay Matteson suggested that the development of
this wine trail could be a boon to our tourism industry as well as agriculture. The trail
provides more opportunities for visitors to Jefferson County to travel, spend money and
have a memorable experience. Matteson recognized Kyle Hafeman, owner of Otter Creek Winery
near Philadelphia, as a bright new young entrepreneur who chose to stay in Jefferson
County and start his own business rather than pursuing a career elsewhere. Mr. Matteson
suggested that the loss of our young people to other areas is a huge problem, locally and
regionally. It was encouraging to see Kyle stay local and start his own business.
The Thousand Islands – Seaway Wine Trail is New York States newest wine trail. It
travels 78 miles across Jefferson County and currently has three farm wineries on it.
Yellow Barn Winery is located near the beginning of the Trail near Sackets Harbor, NY.
Thousand Islands Winery is the oldest winery on the trail located near Alexandria Bay.
Otter Creek Winery just opened its’ doors this Spring and is located near
Philadelphia, NY. Jefferson County is truly the land of milk, honey and wine!
For Immediate
Release
Contact: Jay
M. Matteson
Date: January 8, 2007
Ag Development Corporation Adds FFA Representatives to Board
Watertown, NY. The Jefferson County Agricultural Development Corporation (JCADC) is
starting a new effort to better involve young adults in the future of agriculture. The
Corporation Board of Directors decided in December to invite a representative from each of
Jefferson County’s five FFA chapters to participate in their monthly Board of
Directors meetings. Each FFA chapter will serve as an advisory agency to the Board and
will actively participate in the meetings. The participating chapter will join agencies
such as Cornell Cooperative Extension of Jefferson County, The North Country Regional
Office of Empire State Development, and the Jefferson County Soil and Water Conservation
District, among others, in providing non-voting representation and guidance to the
Corporation Board. Four of the five chapters have decided to accept the invitation.
Student representatives from the Indian River School District, Belleville Henderson School
District, Carthage School District and South Jefferson School District FFA Chapters will
attend the January 10, 2007 Board meeting. Mr. Steve Jones, Belleville Henderson faculty
advisor for FFA stated, “this is a real honor for the students to experience what
goes on in the agricultural industry and work with all the agricultural agencies to
support agriculture.” The students who will represent FFA are:
?Brooke Davidson will represent Indian River FFA. Brooke is the Chapter President, a
former Jefferson County Dairy Ambassador and has a strong interest in pursuing aquaculture
in college.
?Katie Hill, who represents Belleville Henderson FFA, is Chapter President and works on
her family dairy farm outside of school.
?South Jefferson FFA is sending Corey Reed as their representative. Corey is chapter Vice
President and works on his family’s dairy farm.
?Sara Hall is President of the Carthage School District Chapter of FFA and will represent
them on the JCADC Board. Sara is also a Jefferson County Dairy Ambassador.
Mr. Aaron Kimmich, JCADC Board member and Branch Manager for First Pioneer Farm Credit in
Burrville, NY, introduced the motion to add the FFA students. Mr. Kimmich indicated,
“it is critical to do everything possible to encourage our young adults to come back
to Jefferson County and pursue agricultural careers after college.” “I see this
as one small way we can help these students learn about opportunities in Jefferson County
and hopefully they’ll return here after college,” Kimmich added. Another JCADC
Board member, Nancy Robbins, who owns Old McDonald’s Farm in Sackets Harbor, NY, and
supported the initiative added, “I think having these four, bright student leaders at
the JCADC Board table will bring fresh perspectives and new ideas to our mission of
assisting agriculture.” Said Robbins, “Involving our future leaders in making
decisions about agriculture can only result in a positive outcome for today, tomorrow, and
beyond.”
The Jefferson County Agricultural Development Corporation is a stand alone, 501-C-3, not
for profit local development corporation dedicated to agriculture. Designed similar to
other local economic development agencies usually focusing on manufacturing and retail
business, JCADC’s mission is to assist in the retention, growth and promotion of
Jefferson County’s $700 million dollar agricultural industry. The Corporation is
involved in many efforts that range from helping individual family farmers find resources
to grow their business, recruiting 16 families to Jefferson County who invested over $3.2
million in farm purchases, to maintaining the County’s agricultural website,
www.comefarmwithus.com. Jay M. Matteson, Jefferson County Agricultural Coordinator, serves
as the Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer.
For Immediate Release
Contact: Jay M. Matteson
Date: Tuesday, July 18, 2006
New York, Pennsylvania, and Vermont Agricultural Commissioners Invite Two Jefferson County
Residents to Participate on Northeast Dairy Leadership Team.
Watertown, NY. Mr. Ron Robbins, owner of North Harbor Dairy Farm in Sackets Harbor and Mr.
Jay Matteson, Jefferson County Agricultural Coordinator with the Jefferson County
Agricultural Development Corporation are invited to participate as Charter Members of the
Northeast Dairy Leadership Team. The invitation is extended by Mr. Patrick H. Brennan,
Commissioner of the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets; Mr. Dennis C.
Wolff, Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture; and Mr. S.R. Kerr,
Secretary of the Vermont Department of Agriculture, Food and Markets. The pair will
participate in the first meeting of the Team on July 24 and 25th.
On June 12, 2006, the Commissioners/Secretaries of Agriculture from New York,
Pennsylvania, and Vermont, ratified a Memorandum of Understanding that, for the first time
ever, established a formal relationship to work cooperatively to further enhance the dairy
industry throughout the milkshed. The Commissioners/Secretaries are calling for a
“cooperative focus on our dairy industry as a region rather than individual states so
that programs, tools, resources and research institutions will be maximized to ensure the
Northeast remains a competitive and viable milk producing region.” The Northeast
Dairy Leadership Team is an advisory group that will provide leadership goals and
direction for the Northeast Dairy Industry. The Team is expected to meet two to four times
a year.
The first meeting is to set direction and establish specific goals and objectives for the
Northeast Dairy Industry. The Commissioners/Secretaries have set the goal to reorient the
Dairy Industry’s collective focus and thinking towards the opportunities gained
through coordination and collaboration of resources throughout the region. Mr. Ron Robbins
indicated, “this is a rare opportunity for New York dairy producers to participate in
an effort that brings three states together, working together, to reshape the future of
our dairy industry in the Northeast.” Mr. Robbins believes that the three states
working together can become a political dairy powerhouse which can create a more favorable
environment for our dairy farms to maintain and grow their businesses. Jay Matteson stated
that this is an important time and opportunity for our dairy industry. He said, “in
the North Country, we have already made tremendous strides in working together regionally
to better our dairy industry, from the North Country Dairy Viability Initiative to the
Come Farm With Us program.” “These local efforts,” Matteson finished,
“go beyond political boundaries and have been successful, and a Northeast Dairy
Initiative will amplify what we’ve achieved locally.” Both Matteson and Robbins
indicated they look forward to representing Jefferson County and the North Country on the
Northeast Dairy Leadership Team.
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