Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Office Complex

1894 State Highway 68 Canton, NY 13617

315-379-9192
315-379-0926 Fax

Extension Learning Farm

2043 State Highway 68, Canton, NY 13617

MISSION STATEMENT

To provide unbiased, educational outreach to the North Country through research, education and demonstration in Food and Agricultural Systems, Life Skills, Community Enhancement, Rural Stewardship, and Youth Development

VISION STATEMENT

To be a center of dynamic educational programming which will dramatically improve the quality of life and opportunity of North Country residents.

"Cornell Cooperative Extension actively supports equal educational and employment opportunities. No person shall be denied admission to any educational program or activity or be denied employment on the basis of any legally prohibited discrimination involving, but not limited to, such factors as race, color, religion, political beliefs, national or ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital or family status, maintenance of affirmative action programs that will assure the continuation of such equality of opportunity"

If you have any comments or concerns please contact Anita Figueras at the Extension Office or cceprograms@cornell.edu

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Extension Learning Farm The Cornell Cooperative Extension Learning Farm is located in Canton, NY. We are part of our local county extension office and we are a long ways from Ithaca where Cornell University is located. However, like them, our...

sev4 sev4@cornell.edu 003_Extension Learning Farm Extension Learning Farm

The Cornell Cooperative Extension Learning Farm is located in Canton, NY. We are part of our local county extension office and we are a long ways from Ithaca where Cornell University is located. However, like them, our mission is education. Livestock and crop demonstrations, ag awareness activities for schools and the public, maple production, 4-H activities, and an FFA aquaculture program are our main operations.


We have volunteer groups like the BOCES Community Connections Program and Work-study students from SUNY Canton that help with the sheep operation. Several local young people volunteer to help during the summer because of their interest in animals or becoming a veterinarian someday. Many groups such as the Maple Producers, North Country Shepherds, Farm Bureau, etc, meet at the farm. There is a steady stream of busses, vans and cars coming and going.

For More Information Contact:
Kristin Colarusso, Ext 222 kec47@cornell.edu

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Parenting After Separation or Divorce Parenting After Separation or Divorce (PASD) is a program designed to educate divorcing or separating parents about the impact of their breakup on their children. The primary goal of the program is to teach parents...

jab265 jab265@cornell.edu 003_Parenting

Parenting After Separation or Divorce

Parenting After Separation or Divorce (PASD) is a program designed to educate divorcing or separating parents about the impact of their breakup on their children. The primary goal of the program is to teach parents ways in which they can reduce the stress of family changes and protect their children from the negative effects of ongoing parental conflict

What Is the Program Format

The program consists of two sessions, held twice a month. Classes are limited to 12 people. You will not be placed in the same class as the other parent of your child(ren).

2008 Class Schedule

All Classes are from 5:30-8:30pm

August 6 & 13
October 1 & 8
December 3 & 10

2009 Class Schedule

All Classes are from 5:30-8:30pm

February 4 & 11
April 1 & 8
June 3 & 10

Where are Classes Held?

When enrollment form is received, a letter advising you of the class in which you have been enrolled and other pertinent information will be sent to you to confirm your registration. Classes will be held in various locations throughout St. Lawrence County.

For more information contact Kristin Colarusso @ 315-379-9192 or via email kec47@cornell.edu

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Sheep Program The sheep operation has been part of our livestock demonstration for quite awhile. The sheep flock has had as few as 35 and as many as 150 sheep but we are currently running around 70 ewes (including...

sev4 sev4@cornell.edu 001_Sheep Program

Sheep Program

The sheep operation has been part of our livestock demonstration for quite awhile. The sheep flock has had as few as 35 and as many as 150 sheep but we are currently running around 70 ewes (including ewe lambs) for quite awhile now. Seventy is a comfortable number to run in our converted dairy facilities and a small open front barn. Our sheep are primarily Dorset based but our base was Finn-Dorset 10 years ago. In the past we have run a Polypay ram, many Dorset rams and are now trying an Ile de France ram. We basically want a short, chunky, white-face ewe with lots of milk and good mothering abilities. We have selected on weaning weights and out of season breeding for many years. For years we operated on the Cornell STAR system lambing five times per year. Labor became an issue and we went to lambing twice a year. The first lambing is in March and helps provide lambs for the breeding stock market and also avoids lambing in the 20 below zero weather in January and February. The second lambing is in the fall to have lambs for the Christmas market. Fall lambs are vigorous and the ewes are always in good condition after a summer of rotational grazing. The ewes that are not lambing until spring stay out on the pasture until mid-December (with round bale hay as supplement when needed).

Our lambs never leave the barn (at least not on purpose). They are born, nurse their mothers and start on creep and then are weaned onto a full grain diet. The grain is high in digestible fiber so they can eat as much as they want. Our gains are between 0.5 and 1 pound/day, which allows us to move lambs to market quickly. Our lambing percentage runs about 1.8 to 2.0 lambs born. Most lambs are born on their own without staff being present.

Pasture

We use a five strand high tensile fence as a perimeter for the pasture and electro-net or tension-net for dividers. The pasture is divided into about 6 paddocks and the back three are hayed before we graze them. There is a rotation but it is not super intensive. The coyotes have been a problem in the past, even killing sheep in the middle of the day. Our Great Pyrenees guardian dog, llamas and beef cattle stationed in the pasture next to the sheep pasture have kept the coyotes at bay so far this season. We also made an effort to get the charge up on the perimeter fence and mow around the outsides of the fence to eliminate cover.

Marketing

Our lambs are marketed to the eastern market. Some go as hothouse and some at 70 to 80 pounds. A few are sold as freezer lambs, usually at about 110 pounds. About half of our lambs are sold for breeding stock. Our marketing options include a local graded sale at Easter and Christmas, coordinated truckloads to New Holland, PA, and working with a co-op in Vermont that markets to New York city Restaurants.

Scrapie Program

Our flock is enrolled in the voluntary scrapie program and is certified scrapie free. We try hard to provide good, easy care breeding stock for local (and not so local) farms.

Summary

Most of all our sheep provide a good educational demonstration for 4-H sheep camp, hands-on training for beginning farmers and Vet Tech students, are willing victims for the shearing school and herding dog training (maybe not so willing) and entertain many school kids with their antics.

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"To Make The Best Better" I Pledge My Head to clearer thinking, My Hands to larger service, and My Health to better living, for my club, my community, my country, and my world...

sev4 sev4@cornell.edu 005_4-H Youth Development "To Make The Best Better"

I Pledge
My Head to clearer thinking,
My Hands to larger service, and
My Health to better living, for my club,
my community, my country, and my world

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Public Presentation Program The 4-H Public Presentation Program provides youth a tremendously valuable life experience – public speaking! Participants learn how to select a topic of interest, develop an outline, and deliver a demonstration, speech or illustrated talk. For those...

sev4 sev4@cornell.edu 005 Public Presentation Program Public Presentation Program

The 4-H Public Presentation Program provides youth a tremendously valuable life experience – public speaking! Participants learn how to select a topic of interest, develop an outline, and deliver a demonstration, speech or illustrated talk. For those with a creative flair, try a recitation or dramatic interpretation! Involvement with this program area is highly encouraged. Participants can begin at the club level and move onto Area Day, County Day, County Fair and Regional Competition at the State Fair. There is also a state competition is held at Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, in September. If you are interested in this program please contact Patrick Ames at (315) 379-9192.

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Community Service Program 4-H takes great pride in the community service efforts of its 4-H Clubs and independent members. 4-H strongly encourages youth of all ages to participate in activities that improve their community or assist those in need. Through...

sev4 sev4@cornell.edu 004 Community Service Program Community Service Program

4-H takes great pride in the community service efforts of its 4-H Clubs and independent members. 4-H strongly encourages youth of all ages to participate in activities that improve their community or assist those in need. Through their hard work, young people develop a personal sense of belonging to community and appreciation for active citizenship. If you would like more information about the Community Service Program in St. Lawrence County please contact Patrick Ames (315) 379-9192.

The 4-H Teen Council is comprised of teen representatives from across St. Lawrence County. Council members develop critical leadership, communication, and service skills while engaging their peers in a fun and social setting. The 4-H Teen Council is the ever important “youth voice” that provides insight to 4-H as it plans programs, activities, and events. The Council is also very involved in 4-H marketing and fundraising. If you would like more information on the 4-H Teen Council please contact Patrick Ames at (315) 379-9192.

The Livestock Judging Competition is held at three different levels: county, state, and nationals. At each level, teams of 4-H’ers compete while judging classes of sheep, swine, and beef cattle. The contest also includes a written exam where the team members are tested on various subjects relating to livestock. 4-H’ers 13 years of age or younger compete in the junior division. The senior division, for youth over 13 years of age, adds a critical element to the competition – Oral Reasons. This component allows the youth the opportunity to describe each class just like a professional livestock evaluator. If you would like more information about this exciting program, please contact Amy Sands, Cornell Cooperative Extension Educator at (315) 379-9192.

Coralee Barrett, Administrative Assistant

Stephen Canner, Agronomy & Field Crop Educator

HARVEST FESTIVAL SCHEDULED

Cornell Cooperative Extension and the Canton Chamber of Commerce will hold their 2008 Harvest Festival on Saturday, September 27th, from 10:30am-5pm, at the Extension Learning Farm and Office facilities.

Harvest Festival is a family oriented event celebrating local agriculture, music, and products.

"4H Makes a World Of Difference"

4H is the youth development component of the Cornell Cooperative Extension system. 4H helps young people from rural and urban areas explore their interests and expand their awareness of our world. It provides opportunities to develop a greater sense of who they are and who they can become as contributing citizens of our communities, our state, our nation and our world. This mission is achieved through research-based educational programs of Cornell University and an ongoing tradition of applied hands-on/minds-on experiences that develops the heads, hearts, hands and health of St. Lawrence County Youth.

The Horticulture Judging Competition is a proud tradition in St. Lawrence County 4-H! The horticulture club explores the amazing world of plants while preparing 4-H’ers to be part of the Horticulture Judging Team. The actual competition consists of four different elements: team question, written exam, plant identification, and class evaluations. All of the information needed to participate in this competition is found in the New York State Horticulture Study Guide, which can be purchased by the Cornell Cooperative Extension of St. Lawrence County. If you have any further questions about this competition please contact Amy Sands at (315) 379-9192.

Questions? Call NYS Ag & Markets, Division of Animal Industry at 518-457-3502