Jessica Cookingham and her husband, James, have been farming at Daisey Hill since they were teenagers. They raised their daughter Hailey Cookingham on the farm as well.
After a series of floods and droughts, the Cookingham family turned to the community for help.
MILLERTON — Daisey Hill Farm, a small independently owned farm steeped in the principles of hard work and a deep connection to the land, is facing unprecedented challenges.
Recently, the farm launched a GoFundMe campaign which is not only a cry for help but a stark wake-up call to the ways in which climate change is affecting the rural landscape and reshaping our lives.
Unpredictable weather patterns, extreme weather events, and shifting seasonal cycles have made traditional farming methods increasingly untenable. Daisey Hill Farm, like many others, has experienced firsthand the devastating impact of these changes.
Hailey Cookingham’s mother and father run Daisey Hill Farm, where she grew up. She is spearheading the GoFundMe and paints a vivid picture of a family dedicated to their land and community. Her parents have both been working on the farm since they were teenagers and only recently bought the business in 2018.
They do not own the land it’s situated on, which leads to challenges in securing various types of insurance.
Cookingham said: “We’ve seen our fields flooded, droughts lasting longer than ever before, and crops failing where they once thrived. It’s a struggle not just for us but for the entire community reliant on agriculture. This GoFundMe is our beacon of hope.”
The Cookinghams have felt the harsh reality of climate change. Inconsistent rainfall patterns and unpredictable weather have wreaked havoc on their crops. One year, drought forced them to irrigate from a local brook; this past year, excessive rain caused water rot in their pumpkins. These challenges illustrate the broader crisis facing farmers globally.
The Cookingham family is seeking support to keep their tradition of providing local homegrown vegetables and cherished farm experiences alive.
Cookingham’s mother, Jessica Cookingham, said: “My husband and I really love being able to provide essentials for people to grow their own food and, you know, take flowers to loved ones. And my husband, this is his passion. He loves farming, loves to do the field work.”
She reflects on a lifetime spent on the land and shared: “It’s been so awesome to see all the families, when they would bring their children in, then now their children are bringing their children. It’s kind of like a little congregation, a place that they can come and chit chat and catch up. It’s just what we do, you know? It’s what we want to do.”
The community response to the GoFundMe has been strong so far. To date, the campaign has raised over $14,000.
“Anything helps,” said Cookingham, who is a stylist at The Hair Salon in Millerton and helps out on the farm as much as she can. “We just need enough to keep going,” she remarked, gratefully acknowledging the support so far and excitedly sharing plans for a thank-you barbecue on the farm “just as soon as we can.”
Despite a myriad of challenges, the family is remaining hopeful. Of the community of other small farms nearby such as Silamar and Paley’s, Jessica shared, “We’re all kind of bound together. We look out for each other and if we don’t have something here, I send them [customers] over to Paley’s, and vice versa!”
Reflecting on her family’s struggles, Cookingham shared: “Farming is unpredictable and cruel. We’ve seen our crops fail due to weather extremes, and it’s heartbreaking. This farm isn’t just our livelihood; it’s a part of the community’s fabric. We don’t just grow crops; we create memories.”
To support the farm, go to gofund.me/3edd324c or send a check to Daisey Hill 438 Indian Lake Road, Millerton, NY 12546 or Venmo to @Hailey-Cookingham
PINE PLAINS — The Pine Plains FFA Ag Fair brought a crowd to the high school on Church Street Saturday, Oct. 11.
Kicking off the day was the annual tractor pull, attracting a dedicated crowd that sat in bleachers and folding chairs for hours watching Allison-Chalmers, International Harvesters and John Deeres compete to pull the heaviest weights.
A large collection of food was on offer from the Pine Plains FFA and each one of the classes in the Pine Plains Central School District. The football team was selling pickles.
Stissing Mountain High School Principal Christopher Boyd enjoyed a dip in the dunk tank to raise money for the Pine Plains teachers’ union-sponsored scholarship.
Stissing Mountain High School Principal Christopher Boyd got dunked several times during his half-hour shift in the dunk tank. Proceeds from the throws benefitted the Photo by Nathan Miller
The Rev. AJ Stack, center right, blessing a chicken at the pet blessing event at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Amenia on Saturday, Oct. 4.
AMENIA — After serving more than five years as Priest-in-Charge of St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Amenia, the Rev. AJ Stack announced Tuesday, Oct. 7, that he will resign from the church and Food of Life/Comida de Vida pantry. His last day at his current post will be Sunday, Nov. 2, the conclusion of the Feast of All Saints.
The news was shared in two emails from Stack — one to Food of Life pantry subscribers and volunteers, and another to parish members.
“I write tonight with difficult news, and I wanted you to hear it from me as soon as the Vestry and I had a chance to meet,” he wrote. “After much prayer and careful discernment, I have submitted my resignation to the Vestry as Priest-in-Charge of St. Thomas, and therefore as Executive Director of Food of Life/Comida de Vida.”
Stack provided few details about his departure. At time of publication, he had not announced his next steps but said the decision was “not sudden,” and followed careful consideration over a period of months. He will not be leaving the area or the diocese.
An announcement about his path forward and the transition process is expected soon. In the meantime, Stack said he remains “fully present” at the church, and the food pantry services will continue without interruption.
Stack expressed gratitude for the community and the growth of St. Thomas’ mission during his tenure. “Together we have welcomed new neighbors and strengthened our outreach in meaningful ways,” he said. “I trust that good work will continue.”
He joined St. Thomas in March 2020 and guided the church and community through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. In a recent interview with The News about the food pantry, Stack estimated that it serves 653 individuals from 156 households each week, highlighting a significant contribution to the community.
The announcement was met with messages of reassurance from pantry volunteers. Jolly Stewart, a Vestry member and volunteer, wrote to the community with words of reassurance following the announcement. “I have complete faith in the strength of the parish of St. Thomas,” she wrote. “Our history shows how we have done this time and again, each time becoming more than what we were before. We can, without a doubt, do this now.”
MILLERTON — Ten candidates for office in the Nov. 4 election will answer questions from Dutchess County voters at a candidate forum on Friday, Oct. 24, at the Annex at the NorthEast-Millerton Library located at 28 Century Blvd.
The forum, which is sponsored by the library, will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Candidates for local and county offices will answer questions from residents in attendance or from residents who have submitted questions in advance.
“We’re excited to keep the tradition of the candidate forum going,” said Rhiannon Leo-Jameson, director of the library. “Some years we can’t always get candidates together.”
This year’s forum will include:
Rachele Grieco Cole, a Democrat, and Chris Mayville, a Republican, who both are running uncontested for the North East Town Council;
Casey McCabe, a Democrat, also running uncontested for North East Justice.
Among Dutchess County races:
Tracy MacKenzie, who is endorsed by Republicans and Democrats, is running uncontested for Dutchess County Family Court Judge;
Kara Gerry, a Democrat, and Ned McLoughlin, a Republican, are in a contest for a Dutchess County Court judgeship currently held by McLoughlin.
Chris Drago, D-19, and Tonya Pulver, a Republican, are competing to represent Dutchess County’s19th District seat currently held by Drago.
Democratic incumbent Dan Aymar-Blair and Will Truitt, the Republican chair of the county legislature, are competing for the Dutchess County Comptroller position currently held by Aymar-Blair.
Leo-Jameson is encouraging questions for the candidates to be submitted in advance, which will not be revealed to candidates beforehand. Dutchess County residents may pose questions during the forum. To submit a question on the library’s website, go to the calendar at nemillertonlibrary.org and find the link in the Oct. 24calendar entries.
The format calls for opening statements from the candidates, followed by questions from residents, and candidates will be able to stay after the forum to answer questions personally.
The residence at 35 Amenia Union Road in Sharon was damaged after being struck by the Jeep Grand Cherokee around 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 11.
SHARON, Conn. — Emergency crews were called Saturday, Oct. 11, to Amenia Union Road in Sharon for a report of a vehicle into a building with entrapment.
Connecticut State Police reported Charles Teti, 62, was driving his Jeep Grand Cherokee northbound on Amenia Union Road when, for an unknown reason, the vehicle veered across the southbound land and exited the roadway where it struck a tree and home. Airbags deployed.
Teti and front seat passenger Aidan Cassidy, 63, sustained serious injuries. Teti was airlifted to Hartford Hospital and Cassidy was transported by ambulance to Sharon Hospital for treatment.
Back seat passenger Shea Cassidy-Teti, 17, sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead on scene. Cassidy-Teti was a senior at Kent School. He played on the football and tennis teams.
The residence that was struck is located at 35 Amenia Union Road.
The case remains under open investigation. Witnesses are asked to contact Trooper Lukas Gryniuk at Troop B 860-626-1821.
