Jimmy and Janine Golub welcome you to Our Farm.
Say hello when you see us!

        Over the last 25 years we've seen so many of our farms disappear to be replaced 
forever by development. It was 26 years ago that the Golubs started selling products 
from their roadside stand. What started with a picnic bench and some strawberries 
has blossomed into a destination for thousands of school children and families every fall.
      Jimmy and Janine first met in entomology class at SUNY Cobleskill in 1975. They worked 
on various dairy farms including Shelburne Farms in Vermont where they were married 
in 1979. Although Jimmy came from an urban background, his dream, from the age of 12, 
 was to own and operate a farm. On the other hand Janine's family had been Dutch pioneers, 
helping to found the city of Ithaca.  The course of events took this young married couple to 
Cazenovia, N.Y., where a territory had opened for Jimmy in his work with Eastern A.I. Coop
 (now called Genex)  in 1981. This work involved inseminating dairy cattle for member dairies. 
They purchased the White Farm on Peth Rd. All they were looking for at the time, was enough 
pasture for their 2 horses. They got more than they bargained for with 80 total acres. 
        Soon after moving in, they planted 1/4 acre of strawberries and that's how it started. 
After a year of strawberries, Jimmy thought it might be better to grow a crop that could 
be harvested in an upright position. Golub planted sweet corn with a push type planter. 
Although the rows were crooked, people began to notice how tasty corn was. The 
following year Golub purchased some old equipment and put in 5 acres of pumpkins 
and added a petting zoo. Our Farm was born. The children that came that year are 
in their late 20's.
        There has been obstacles over the years. "We lost our horse, Willow", says Golub.
 "She had been such a big part of Our Farm and our lives it was hard to imagine doing 
it without her." But after much searching, Cody was found at Morrisville College and 
proved to be a worthy successor. But the biggest challenge was in 1997 when Janine 
was in the hospital. She was inflicted with a rare nerve condition that left her with limited 
mobility and stamina. Golub recalls, "we had so many people that helped us it was amazing, 
Several people helped with our school program. And then there was a group of people that 
helped pick all the pumpkins in one night. That was a big help and really showed me what 
kind of a community we lived in."
       In 1998,  a corn maze was added, giving Our Farm another dimension.  2004 saw 
the construction of a barn. "That has given us much more to offer.  We have agricultural 
displays for learning and an indoor picnic area", says Janine.  Basically the approach is 
agritourism's low key non-commercial alternative with a focus on education.  They never 
seem to be over crowded and people seem to appreciate the homespun atmosphere. 
"Some families have brought the 2nd generation to Our Farm.   We hope you will make 
Our Farm a part of your family tradition".



School Field Trip Weekday Staff

Charlie Davis

Charlie Davis will drive the children to the pumpkin field during the week.
Charlie certainly has a lifetime of experience around farm machinery. If you meet Charlie you will
notice how well he works with children. He's had enough practice! He is a retired teacher from the
Chittenango Schools where he taught technology to 7th graders for 32 years. For the past 20 years
Charlie has owned and operated his own farm where he raises beef cows. He is active in the beef
industry serving is a past president of the NY Hereford Breeders and a current treasurer for the
NY Beef Producers. He also serves as a junior adviser to NY Beef Producers.
He farms with his Dad in the Erieville area.

Melissa Spicer

Our Farm is thrilled to have Melissa Spicer back for a fourth year to be in charge of the horse
ride during the weekdays. As a veteran horse owner herself, she has a keen sense about horses.
Of course most of that is something you learn by being around horses. Melissa did study dressage
and purchased abused horses that she successfully rehabilitated. Her interest in animal
behavior goes back to her college years, where she studied this at Cornell. She is a co-founder
of Blueprint Dog Studio that emphasizes positive reinforcement for dogs. Melissa has also worked
educating students in a career development program for positive reinforcement trainer.
Our Farm is pleased to have someone as well qualified as Melissa to run the horse ride.

Sylvia O'Connor

Sylvia O'Connor is in charge of our petting zoo during the weekdays.
Born a Canadian, her family moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan at 7 years old. 
As a child she was constantly intrigued with nature, always learning and studying.
After high school, she went to the Oglebay Institute to qualify to run a nature camp.
She became a naturalist counselor, and later an assistant director of a nature camp.
She took care of a wide variety of animals, while working with children and putting
together programs for the camp. She later moved to Manlius with her husband
Dennis and raised 4 girls.

Sylvia has a unique combination of  love for animals and nature and a bond with
children, helping to make the petting zoo experience a positive one for our many visitors.

Yao easily balences a 60 pound pumpkin on his head.

Weekend

If you come to Our Farm on the weekend you are likely to see Yao Foli. Yao is a student at
Cazenovia College who comes from Ghana. He is instrumental in bringing community
development to his village. He owns a farm there and is here to learn more about agriculture
in the United States. Yao has been an intern for Our Farm as part of his college curriculum.
He is learning how to operate machinery, and other modern practices. He has many talents,
as a musician, a wood craftman, and stone mason. He has enriched lives of everyone he has
known by his hard work and his magnetic personality. Yao will be operating Boris, the trebuchet.
Be sure to say hello to him.

Sylvia Yao and Walt are Past Employees.

Walt Amman

Walt  has been our tractor driver for the school groups from the beginning.
Walt is a retired dairy farmer from Manlius. The children referred to Walt affectionately 
as "Uncle Walt". To the Golubs he's more than an Uncle. "He's like a father to me", 
says Golub. "I help Walt unload hay and Walt fixes and welds all the things I break 
every year. We help each other out but if the truth were to be known, Walt does 
more for me than I can ever do for him."  Walt went to a one room school house 
as a child and remembers a time when he did all the farm work with horses. 
Because of some health issues and age, Walt will sadly not be able to drive the 
tractor this year, but he will always be a part of Our Farm and our lives, so we are 
leaving this photo as a reminder of his contributions and the love we have for him. 
Hopefully, Walt will pop in and watch from a distance.

I would like to thank my oldest friend, Stuart Staley who designed our great logo.
This is his website
http://www.encmedia.com