Shtayburne Farm is excited to announce they are again hosting their Fall Family Festival this autumn. This kid-focused event will be hosted by the Hostetler family on October 13th, from 10AM until 4PM, right on their family farm.
Shtayburne Farm is a working dairy farm on the west side of Seneca Lake just off State Route 14 in Rock Stream. The farm has been owned and operated by the Hostetler family for 4 generations, and is a Mennonite farm. The family began making farmstead cheese in 2010, and opened their farm store in November of that year. The Festival is being held to celebrate family, fall and farming.
“We hosted our first Fall Family Festival in 2015 to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the opening of our family Cheese Shop,” said Lorin Hostetler, owner of the family-run dairy and its creamery, as well as head cheesemaker. “It was meant to be a one-time event. But we had so many requests to do this family-centric event again, that we revived it last year to great community success, and here we are going into year three! It’s a great opportunity to share the harvest season and family values we hold dear with other families, neighbors and visitors to the farm.”
The Festival will be held on the front lawn of the farm, which is where the first Finger Lakes Cheese Festival was held in 2011. Under the big top, there will be several local vendors selling a cornucopia of fall favorites all day, including Side Hill Acres Goat Farm, who will be on hand with their award-winning goat cheeses, HIP Artisan Jams and Catharine Valley Crackers. And of course, Shtayburne Farm will be sampling and selling their many varieties of cows’ milk cheeses and a several different types of homemade baked goods.
And because this event is all about family, there will be many family and kid activities throughout the day:
• Hayrides at 11AM, 1PM and 3PM
• Guided Farm Tours at 12PM and 2PM
• Petting Zoo
• Bounce House & Play Area
• Several old-fashioned, fall-themed kids’ games
• Pumpkin decorating contest
Admission to the Festival is free and includes farm tours, petting zoo, play area which features a big corn-filled sandbox, big top admission and bounce house. Hayrides are just $1, and games just 50 cents each, where the kids can compete for farm-themed prizes.
“We can’t thank our friends, neighbors and visitors enough for their support over the years, and really hope everyone can make it down to the farm for the Festival, whether for an hour or the whole day,” invites Hostetler. “We’ve ordered good fall weather for the day, too!”
About Shtayburne Farm
Shtayburne Farm is a family-owned dairy farm with over four generations of experience in the dairy farming. We began making cheese in 2010, and opened our Cheese Shop at the farm that November. We control every aspect of our farmstead cheeses: we grow the crops, milk the cows and process and package the cheese — including hand waxing our aged cheddar. Our handcrafted artisan cheeses are made in small batches, with attention given to every detail.
Our Cheddars, Jacks and cheese curd can be found at our Cheese Shop which is open year round, at local wineries and retail outlets, in many recipes at local restaurants and food trucks, and at many events throughout the Region. We are a proud member of the Finger Lakes Cheese Alliance, American Cheese Society, Watkins Glen Chamber of Commerce and Finger Lakes Culinary Bounty. For more information, visit our website, www.fingerlakesdairyfarm.com, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram.
