Morrisville College Ag Day Oct. 6

From Morrisville State College:

Butter making and a pedal tractor pull for kids are some of the attractions lined up for Ag Day at Morrisville State College from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Oct. 6.

More than 1,000 students from area schools are expected to attend the event which is free and open to the public.

Throughout the day, area dairy princesses will be making butter in Marshall Hall. Additionally, attendees will be able to sample the college's homemade ice cream, milk a mechanical cow and learn about farm animals, the college’s livestock program and agriculture.

The day will also include hay rides, a hay maze, face painting and tours of campus facilities. The college’s renewable energy programs will also have a display of wind, hydro and solar energy. 

This year’s Ag Day is a collaborative effort among the college, Madison, Stockbridge and Hamilton Collegiate FFAs. 

Morrisville State Fall Standardbred Yearling Sale Sept. 17

From Morrisville State College:

Morrisville State College will hold its annual Fall Standardbred Yearling Sale at noon, Saturday, Sept. 17  at the college’s Nancy Sears Stowell Arena on Swamp Road.  

The sale preview day is 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Sept. 16.

The event draws a crowd of potential buyers, sellers, trainers and owners from across the Northeast. Morrisville College's sale is the only one of its kind in New York state held on a college campus. 

A total of 90 yearlings are cataloged for the 2016 sale. Sixteen of them are being sold by the college.

The yearling sale, which features year-old Standardbred horses sold on consignment by the college, is organized and run by Morrisville State Equine Department faculty, staff and students.

Equine students will be working the event, participating in every aspect of it from bedding stalls, grooming, leading and showing horses, to setting up the business office and assisting with cleanup.

Last year, the sale took in close to $1 million. 

Profits from the sale, which is free and open to the public, go toward general maintenance and enrichment of the college’s equine programs.  For more information about the annual event, visit www.morrisvillesale.com.

Morrisville State College Sells Record Number of Cows at Annual Autumn Review Sale

Stacia Beckwith, an agricultural science major from North Norwich, prepares a cow for Morrisville State College’s Annual Autumn Review Sale. (Photo by Franci Valenzano, public relations associate)

From Morrisville State College:

Morrisville State College’s Annual Autumn Review Sale set a record with the highest number of animals sold in the 33-year history of the event. 

The dairy cattle sale focused on Holsteins, but also two Jerseys, two Brown Swiss and one Milking Shorthorn were sold.

The sale grossed a total of $274,650 with 116 live lots sold, nine embryo lots, and five additional animals outside the formal sale. The live lots ranged from two days old to 5-year-old cows.

The average per live lot was $2,727 which is reflective of the quality of the animals gathered by the students despite the current economic struggles of the dairy industry, said Steve Mooney, co-adviser of the sale and assistant professor of dairy science at Morrisville. The high lot went for $5,500.

Run by Morrisville State College’s faculty and students in dairy, agricultural business, agricultural science and agricultural engineering classes affiliated with college’s dairy club, proceeds from the sale support dairy club trips, the dairy judging team, academic programs, and various activities and events.  

More than 100 students participated in this year’s event.

Jessica Currie, an agricultural business development major from Tully, Darin Bresett, an animal science dairy major from Gouverneur, and Connor Nesbitt,  an agricultural business development major from Byron, co-chaired the sale.

Also assisting as committee chairs were:

Drew Hill, of Cattaraugus, agricultural business development

Bryce Hamilton, of Castile, animal science dairy

Maryellen Wiley, of Whitesboro, agricultural business development

Adam Eick, of Medina, agricultural business development

Mike Cantwell, of Richfield Springs, dairy management

Matt Fletcher, of Southampton, Mass., dairy management

Elsie Jerzak, of Millerton, Pa, dairy management

Nora Williams, of Truxton, criminal justice

Shannon O’Sullivan, of Wappingers Falls, dairy management

Clay Frederick, of Cazenovia, agricultural business development

Karch Manley, of Hamilton, agricultural business development

“Despite low dairy prices, the high quality of the cattle in the sale ring lead to competition among the buyers and our prices were better than expected,” Mooney said. “As always, the students’ hard work, skills and effort as a team lead to an excellent sale.”

“The students had the cattle looking fantastic and worked as hard as I have ever seen,” said Dave Rama, sale auctioneer. “Every consignor I have spoken with complimented the entire sale.”

The Morrisville State College Dairy Club helps students extend their knowledge of the dairy industry through participation in activities like the annual autumn review sale and field trips.