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Cornmaze

Personalized Pumpkins

Our New Barn!

Jimmy and Janine Golub welcome you to Our Farm.
Say hello when you see us!

        Over the last 20 years we've seen so many of our farms disappear to be replaced 
forever by development. It was 20 years ago that the Golubs started selling products 
from their roadside stand. What started with a picnic bench and some strawberries 
has blossomed into a destination for thousands of school children and families every fall.
      Jimmy and Janine first met in entomology class at SUNY Cobleskill in 1975. They worked 
on various dairy farms including Shelburne Farms in Vermont where they were married 
in 1979. Although Jimmy came from an urban background, his dream, from the age of 12, 
 was to own and operate a farm. On the other hand Janine's family had been Dutch pioneers, 
helping to found the city of Ithaca.  The course of events took this young married couple to 
Cazenovia, N.Y., where a territory had opened for Jimmy in his work with Eastern A.I. Coop 
in 1981. This work involved inseminating dairy cattle for member dairies. They purchased 
the White Farm on Peth Rd. All they were looking for at the time, was enough pasture for 
their 2 horses. They got more than they bargained for with 80 total acres. 
        Soon after moving in, they planted 1/4 acre of strawberries and that's how it started. 
After a year of strawberries, Jimmy thought it might be better to grow a crop that could 
be harvested in an upright position. Golub planted sweet corn with a push type planter. 
Although the rows were crooked, people began to notice how tasty corn was. The 
following year Golub purchased some old equipment and put in 5 acres of pumpkins 
and added a petting zoo. Our Farm was born. The kids that came that year will be 
graduating college this year.
        There has been obstacles over the years. "We lost our horse, Willow", says Golub.
 "She had been such a big part of Our Farm and our lives it was hard to imagine doing 
it without her." But after much searching, Cody was found at Morrisville College and 
proved to be a worthy successor. But the biggest challenge was in 1997 when Janine 
was in the hospital. She was inflicted with a rare nerve condition that left her with limited 
mobility and stamina. Golub recalls, "we had so many people that helped us it was amazing, 
Several people helped with our school program. And then there was a group of people that 
helped pick all the pumpkins in one night. That was a big help and really showed me what 
kind of a community we lived in."
       In 1998,  a corn maze was added giving a whole new dimension to Our Farm. Last year 
a barn was built with some help from NY State Agritourism. "That has given us much more 
to offer. We have agricultural displays for learning and an indoor picnic area", says Janine..
 Basically the approach is agritourism's low key non-commercial alternative with a focus 
on education. They never seem to be over crowded and people seem to appreciate 
the homespun atmosphere.                 
     "Some families have brought the 2nd generation to Our Farm.  We hope you will
 make Our Farm a part of your family tradition".

School Field Trip Weekday Staff

From left to right:
Karen Cohen, Sue Koennecke, Jimmy Golub, Janine Golub, Darwin Cordelle
We have a highly qualified staff for our weekday school visitors.

      Karen Cohen was a kindergarten teacher in the Stockbridge               
school district for 20 years. She first came to us many years ago 
as a visitor with her own class. She brings a keen understanding of 
young children  and vast knowledge to our program. Her specialty 
will be working with the children in the petting zoo. Sue Koennecke is 
our neighbor  and we've known her for many years. She is an animal 
lover as can  be exemplified by her menagerie she keeps at home. 
This includes, sheep, rabbits, chickens, a horse, and countless other 
animals.  She is a graduate of Cazenovia College and LeMoyne College. 
She took  equine studies in Cazenovia and will be sharing the horse ride  duties.               
      Darwin Cordelle was a dairyman for many years in the town of Lincoln. 
He's been around horses all his life and has a 6th sense with horses.
He will also be leading the horse and running the horse ride.

     Walt  has been our tractor driver for the school groups from the beginning.
Walt is a retired dairy farmer from Manlius. The children  refer to Walt affectionately 
as "Uncle Walt". To the Golubs he's more than an Uncle. "He's like a father to me", 
says Golub. "I help Walt unload hay and Walt fixes and welds all the things I break 
every year. We help each other out but if the truth were to be known, Walt does 
more for me than I can ever do for him."  Walt went to a one room school house 
as a child and remembers a time when he did all the farm work with horses. 
His experience and genuine helpfulness are a vital part of Our Farm's staff.