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Up Yonder Farm reports increased visits, school programs and $83,000 state grant for museum and auditorium upgrades
Summary
County staff reported Up Yonder Farm hosted roughly 10,000 visitors in 2024, ran more than 300 programs (mostly for schools), and received about $83,000 from NYS Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation to improve HVAC, backup power and courtyard access; the committee also approved a $1,800 donation to the farm budget.
County staff and Up Yonder Farm representatives told the Building and Grounds Committee that visitation and programming have grown and that a recently awarded state grant will fund behind‑the‑scenes museum and auditorium improvements.
The farm’s on‑site representative reported average annual visitation near 10,000 people and more than 300 programs last year, with school groups making up the majority of program attendees. Staff said the farm runs roughly 2,000–3,000 student visits annually and expects heavy summer programming and field‑trip demand.
The committee heard that New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation has awarded Up Yonder Farm a grant of about $83,000 to install HVAC in the museum, add backup generators for the museum and auditorium, and enhance the courtyard area to improve access and visitor flow. Farm staff said the museum contains taxidermy displays and hands‑on exhibits used for educational programming and that climate control and backup power will preserve collections and allow programs to continue during outages.
Dean (staff member) presented two action items: a request to amend the farm budget to accept a $1,800 donation from the Lewis Charitable Trust (appropriation code and revenue code were stated in the motion), and a request to amend a permit/contract to extend a seasonal agreement (see separate fairgrounds article). The committee approved the $1,800 budget amendment; staff said they would send appropriate thank‑you letters.
Why it matters
Committee members praised staff and the farm’s leadership for increased programming and successful grant fundraising. The HVAC and generator work addresses collections care and program continuity, while additional courtyard improvements are intended to increase accessibility.
