February 22, 2011
CCE contacts: see last paragraph; Finger Lakes Livestock Exchange, Ron Parker, 585-394-1515

Register Now! NNY Livestock Producers to Visit NY’s Largest Independent Sales Center

Northern New York — Northern New York livestock producers can register now for Cornell Cooperative Extension’s 2-day learning trip to New York’s largest independently owned livestock sales center — Finger Lakes Livestock Exchange — in Canandaigua, NY. Vans will leave from Plattsburgh, Malone, Canton and Watertown on Friday, April 1 and return Saturday, April 2.

The group will visit Finger Lakes Livestock Exchange for the Saturday April 2nd sale and will meet with Sales Manager Ron Parker.

Parker will show the North Country producers the modern facilities at the Finger Lakes Livestock Exchange that allow consigned animals to be penned separately and not comingled with cattle from other farms. Cattle are sold in groups of 8-15 animals at one time which attracts buyers and sellers, Parker says.

Parker says, “We have a strong buyer base and a selling style that attracts buyers from all over – from Vermont to Oklahoma over – and we already sell quite a few cattle from the North Country here.”

The tour also includes a stop at the New York Wine and Culinary Center in Canandaigua to see the test kitchen, restaurant, theater and other facilities for developing and promoting NY wine and food products.

A potluck dinner meeting with the Seneca Beef Producers in Ovid, NY, is planned for Friday evening.

The cost of the tour is $99 per room plus $20 per person for transportation. Payment ahead of time is requested. Contact the Cornell Cooperative Extension closest to you for reservations:
CCE Clinton County, Pete Hagar, 518-561-7450
CCE Franklin County, Bernadette Logozar or Diane Dumont,
518-483-7403
CCE Jefferson County, Ron Kuck, 315-788-8450
CCE St. Lawrence County, Betsy Hodge, 315-379-9192. # # #