Oswego County Harvest Dinner Oct. 18

There is one great way each year to savor all of the agriculture in Oswego County.

That's the Oswego County Harvest Dinner, this year set for 6:15 p.m. Oct. 18 at the American Foundry in Oswego. The event features local chefs using vegetables like onions, fruits like apples, various cuts of meat and other foods grown right in Oswego County to make delectable dishes.

This year boasts the fourth annual Harvest Dinner and believe me, the event has grown in popularity each and every year. Tickets sell out fast.

Tickets for the event are $35 for one or $65 for two and must be purchased ahead of time. Prepaid reservations can be made sending payment to Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oswego County, Harvest Dinner, 3288 Main St., Mexico, NY 13114. No tickets will be sold at the door.

I went to this dinner last year and believe me, it is worth the price. The food is excellent and it really is thrilling to hear about the foods grown in Oswego County and the hard-working farmers behind them.

The evening begins with a social hour, including a sampling of Oswego County beverages. Guests will be served a six-course meal showcasing the scrumptious and diverse agricultural products grown and made in Oswego County.

Guest speaker for the evening will be Chris Fesko, an award-winning agricultural educator who runs her On the Farm Discovery Center in Spafford, Onondaga County, where she takes in school group tours throughout the spring.

She also is the creator and producer of the "On the Farm" video series that helps children and adults understand farming, the work that is done on the farm and how all of that work is responsible for the food we eat each day. Her videos have won four Telly Awards, three Parents' Choice awards and many other honors. She won the Ag Promotion Award this year from the New York State Agricultural Society.

There also will be raffle baskets featuring Oswego County’s finest agricultural products and more.

For more information on the Oswego County Harvest Dinner please call 315-963-7286 or e-mail lkw39@cornell.edu.