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Cornell Cooperative Extension makes a difference every day - today, YOU can help make that difference.

Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) continues to be vital to our region's cultural and economic well-being. Cornell Cooperative Extension touches the lives of adults and children throughout Yates County, from what we eat and drink to how we use our natural, financial, and personal resources.

CCE-Yates County’s COVID-19 Response continues to inform our need to prepare for the unforeseen, as well as work on the programs and services you have come to depend on:

• Youth Programming- our local 4-H participation in the Yates County Fair; 4-H education in animal care, animal knowledge and showmanship, science/technology, gardens, food, and birds; 4-H provides opportunities for youth leadership development, public speaking, and pathways to college scholarships; staff developing and disseminating Youth Boredom Buster Kits, for some non-screen-time indoor and outdoor activity. Teen leadership training to implement community service projects making fleece animal bedding blankets, collecting bottles, and supporting local fundraisers such as the Hope Walk.

• Agriculture- sharing the latest research and education on ways to increase the safety and profitable local farms; education on new crops, supporting the next generation of local farms; advocacy for the right to farm and local farmland preservation; On-Farm Readiness Reviews providing NYS required GAPS training to local farmers, in-person field crop inspection project and in-person farm visits. Yates County Farm Update bi-weekly publication, distributed by mail and electronically during the growing season. Finger Lakes Farm Country agritourism website continues to attract new tourist audiences as we promote local agriculture businesses.

• Gardening- CCE staff continue to respond to local food insecurity concerns, providing container garden kits [In partnership with the Penn Yan Elks Club] and seed packets. Gardening Matters Day provided in-person education, and a Facebook gardening video series reached an average of 200 viewers per episode. The Gardening Matters newsletter continued its fourth year, providing information on best practices for growing plants.

• Lake Preservation- Including staff, continued volunteer recruitment, and training in Harmful Algal Bloom detection/testing with the Shoreline Monitoring Program. Coalition projects [starry stonewort] continued to develop evolving strategies on ways to keep the lakes clean. The Watercraft Steward Program provided community education by conducting inspections and providing education to prevent invasive species from impacting Keuka Lake (and surrounding waterways).

• Quality of Life – Providing resources and education on money management; life skills training to help Yates County residents be employment ready.

• Terrestrial Invasive Species & Forestry- resources and education on spotted lantern fly, spongy month, emerald ash borer, and swallow-wort continued. Phone call volumes remain high for identifying invasive species and strategies for maintaining trees, shrubs, and other plants. In collaboration with the Promotions & Marketing Coordinator, our Natural Resources Educator produced online videos and newspaper articles to address tree concerns and educate on boot brush stations use.

Your support is needed to ensure that CCE can continue meeting this challenging time's emerging needs.

Our programs help build a stronger community and contribute to the success of individuals and families. CCE Yates County is a 501©3 not-for-profit educational institution, and your gift is essential to our ongoing success. 

Please make a difference by becoming a Friend of Cornell Cooperative Extension. Click here to download a donation form. Online donations can be made via PayPal. 

Building Strong and Vibrant New York Communities

Cornell Cooperative Extension is an employer and educator recognized for valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans, and Individuals with Disabilities and provides equal program and employment opportunities.

Last updated September 15, 2022