Are you looking for ways to develop or expand your agricultural business?

Then join Cornell Cooperative Extension – Sullivan County for a workshop designed to help identify which loans or grants might be right for you. Representatives from Sullivan County Division of Planning & Environmental Management, County of Sullivan Industrial Development Agency, Catskill Mountainkeeper (CMK), Farm Service Agency, and The Natural Resource Conservation Service will be on hand to discuss their specific programs.

Topics include the SC Agri-Business Revolving Loan Fund, the IDA Agri-Business Revolving Loan Fund, CMK Capital Access Loan program, USDA FSA funding programs, USDA NRCS funding programs, along with information on NYS grant.

Start your New Year exploring Walnut Mountain Park with a guided snowshoe hike through the beautiful 265 acre park, on Wednesday, January 1st from 11:00-1:00. You’ll receive a Walnut Mountain packet from the Liberty Parks and Recreation with a map of the trails and some great historical facts! -- Did you know Walnut Mountain used to be a ski slope?

Bring the family and enjoy this free late-morning adventure followed by hot chocolate and treats by the fire at Lazy Pond Bed & Breakfast, located just around the corner on Old Loomis Road.

For those of you who’d like a shorter outing, there will be a 30-minute beginner snowshoe on level terrain. And for those who want more, bundle up because we’re going to the top! To register and for more information, call Erin at Catskill Mountainkeeper at (845) 707-1326 or Morgan Outdoors at (845) 439-5507 by December 31st.

Snowshoe rentals are available through Morgan Outdoors. Call (845) 439-5507
to reserve in advance.

Sponsored by Trailkeeper.org, with experienced staff from Trailkeeper partner groups: Lisa Lyons of Morgan Outdoors, Erin Burch of Catskill MountainKeeper, and Heather Jacksy of SC Division of Planning. Co-sponsored by Lazy Pond B&B and Liberty Parks and Recreation.

This free workshop will help farmers and farmers’ market managers receive certification to accept Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) checks, including WIC (Women Infant and Child) FMNP checks, Senior FMNP checks, and WIC Vegetables and Fruits Checks.  

The workshop is designed to help farmers expand their customer base and increase revenues. After completion of the workshop, farmers will be FMNP certified and can directly market their locally grown, fresh produce to eligible participants at their community farmers’ markets.  Workshop participants will learn about the different federal nutrition benefit programs, be provided with the policies and procedures for both the Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program and the Fruits and Vegetables Check Program, and upon completion of the training will receive new signs to display at their market stands.

This free workshop is hosted by Catskill Mountainkeeper, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Sullivan County Public Health Services – WIC, & Sullivan Co Rural Health Network and is mandatory for farmers who want to accept checks from WIC participants at authorized farmers’ markets.