History of Farming in Steuben
Just a four-and-a-half hour drive northwest of the Big Apple, skirting the PA border, you’ll find steep valleys, lush forested hillsides, rolling farmland, and a collection of small towns with big-hearted people who live and work and play in what is known today as Steuben County.
At the heart of the Southern Finger Lakes, Steuben is a haven for those seeking serenity and the chance to reconnect with themselves by slowing down. It’s also a mecca for wine enthusiasts, lake lovers, and art aficionados.
Known as the birthplace of the Finger Lakes Wine Region which is one of the premier wine destinations in the world, at its essence Steuben County is also Farm Country.
Food Network’s Cameron Curtis claims: “. . . a trip to this part of the state means you’ll get to experience the bounty of produce available from the many farms that neighbor each vineyard.”
While it might be difficult to think of it that way these days, at one time places like Hornell and Canisteo, Hammondsport and Corning were all still mostly wilderness. They were still frontier. Of course, that was centuries ago, but the lush woodland and scenic valleys that make the region so picturesque today are mostly new growth forests.
When Steuben County was founded in 1796, one of the main appeals of the area was the way the rivers connect (there are four such rivers in Steuben) working their way to the Chesapeake and making them important and viable avenues for transport. It started with lumber as that was the one of the first primary industries in the region, but as the old growth trees were cut down, land was gradually cleared and planted, livestock were brought in, and farming became another integral industry.
Larger than the state of Rhode Island, Steuben has “the most farming acreage of any New York State county.” That’s been true for a very long time. In 1855, farming was the most common occupation around. Grain, dairy products, and apples were important crops. Some folks think tobacco was tried around then, too. Eventually it would become a big crop. In 1864, over 183,000 pounds of tobacco were produced here.
Local Historian and author, Kirk House writes that “The 1860 gazetteer told us that Steuben folks annually produced over 1.5 million bushels of grain; 60 thousand tons of hay; more than a quarter-million bushels of potatoes; almost 300 thousand bushels of apples; 2 million pounds of butter; and 200 thousand pounds of cheese. . . . By 1900 or so there were over 8,000 dairy farms in Steuben County, and Steuben was the second county in the United States for potato production.”
At one time, the largest industry in the county was farming, the main portion of which was dairy farms.
Tobacco isn’t grown here anymore, but potatoes and corn and soy and grains all are. And dairy is still prominent.
You’ll find small cheese producers scattered throughout the area crafting delicious artisan cheeses that you can sample and purchase at local farm markets and farms themselves.
While farming has a lot to do with the landscape and the people and the rural culture that defines the area, it also impacts the exceptional experiences and products you’ll find while you’re here.
That’s one reason Steuben is part of a five-county initiative called Finger Lakes Farm Country created to promote the abundance of agricultural resources in the region.
After all, Steuben County has over 400,000 acres of land being farmed which also means a variety of ways to immerse yourself in authentic country life from farm stays to hands-on activities, from farm-to-table dining to horseback riding and goat yoga.
Hey, there’s even a bison ranch you can tour. That’s right. And alpacas. Plenty of livestock for photo ops and snuggling. Though bison cuddling hasn’t quite caught on yet.
The long agricultural roots are why it’s not so surprising to learn that the longest continuously running county fair in the United States takes place in Steuben County each August. Has for over 200 years.
Originating in 1819, the Steuben County Fair was a place for farmers to showcase the products of their hard work. There were several categories for judging and prizes were given to exhibitors of cattle, sheep and produce.
Today, you’ll find sundry small farms focused on everything from microgreens and wheat grass to those specializing in honey and maple production, from dairy and cheese farms, to meats, corn, grains, and hops, as well as grape growers and wineries.
And while people all over the country are rediscovering where food comes from, we’ve always known. Much of it comes from here!
Travel expert Carol Cain writes, “. . . truth is a lot of the best of what NYers enjoy in their favorite city restaurants come from upstate, and when it comes to a farm-to-table experience, there is no better place to be” (Girl Gone Travel).
Sure, the word rural comes with its own connotations. Often perceived as a place of rubes and bumpkins, dated terms themselves that intimate a certain lack of sophistication and roughness around one’s edges. But with world-renowned museums and game-changing wineries, Steuben has long been redefining the term rural to mean grand open spaces full of opportunity and wonder.
There are few better ways to experience a place than by interacting with its local farm community. Another great reason to Explore Steuben!
To learn more about the hundreds of agricultural products and experiences in the region, visit FingerLakesFarmCountry.com.
“Boasting a vibrant community of independent farmers raising livestock, operating dairies and growing an array of fruits, grains and vegetables, New York’s Finger Lakes can be proud that eating local has been the norm long before it was trendy.” – Anna Lee C. Iijima, Wine Enthusiast
History of Farming in Steuben
Just a four-and-a-half hour drive northwest of the Big Apple, skirting the PA border, you’ll find steep valleys, lush forested hillsides, rolling farmland, and a collection of small towns with big-hearted people who live and work and play in what is known today as Steuben County.
At the heart of the Southern Finger Lakes, Steuben is a haven for those seeking serenity and the chance to reconnect with themselves by slowing down. It’s also a mecca for wine enthusiasts, lake lovers, and art aficionados.
Known as the birthplace of the Finger Lakes Wine Region which is one of the premier wine destinations in the world, at its essence Steuben County is also Farm Country.
Food Network’s Cameron Curtis claims: “. . . a trip to this part of the state means you’ll get to experience the bounty of produce available from the many farms that neighbor each vineyard.”
While it might be difficult to think of it that way these days, at one time places like Hornell and Canisteo, Hammondsport and Corning were all still mostly wilderness. They were still frontier. Of course, that was centuries ago, but the lush woodland and scenic valleys that make the region so picturesque today are mostly new growth forests.
When Steuben County was founded in 1796, one of the main appeals of the area was the way the rivers connect (there are four such rivers in Steuben) working their way to the Chesapeake and making them important and viable avenues for transport. It started with lumber as that was the one of the first primary industries in the region, but as the old growth trees were cut down, land was gradually cleared and planted, livestock were brought in, and farming became another integral industry.
Larger than the state of Rhode Island, Steuben has “the most farming acreage of any New York State county.” That’s been true for a very long time. In 1855, farming was the most common occupation around. Grain, dairy products, and apples were important crops. Some folks think tobacco was tried around then, too. Eventually it would become a big crop. In 1864, over 183,000 pounds of tobacco were produced here.
Local Historian and author, Kirk House writes that “The 1860 gazetteer told us that Steuben folks annually produced over 1.5 million bushels of grain; 60 thousand tons of hay; more than a quarter-million bushels of potatoes; almost 300 thousand bushels of apples; 2 million pounds of butter; and 200 thousand pounds of cheese. . . . By 1900 or so there were over 8,000 dairy farms in Steuben County, and Steuben was the second county in the United States for potato production.”
At one time, the largest industry in the county was farming, the main portion of which was dairy farms.
Tobacco isn’t grown here anymore, but potatoes and corn and soy and grains all are. And dairy is still prominent.
You’ll find small cheese producers scattered throughout the area crafting delicious artisan cheeses that you can sample and purchase at local farm markets and farms themselves.
While farming has a lot to do with the landscape and the people and the rural culture that defines the area, it also impacts the exceptional experiences and products you’ll find while you’re here.
That’s one reason Steuben is part of a five-county initiative called Finger Lakes Farm Country created to promote the abundance of agricultural resources in the region.
After all, Steuben County has over 400,000 acres of land being farmed which also means a variety of ways to immerse yourself in authentic country life from farm stays to hands-on activities, from farm-to-table dining to horseback riding and goat yoga.
Hey, there’s even a bison ranch you can tour. That’s right. And alpacas. Plenty of livestock for photo ops and snuggling. Though bison cuddling hasn’t quite caught on yet.
The long agricultural roots are why it’s not so surprising to learn that the longest continuously running county fair in the United States takes place in Steuben County each August. Has for over 200 years.
Originating in 1819, the Steuben County Fair was a place for farmers to showcase the products of their hard work. There were several categories for judging and prizes were given to exhibitors of cattle, sheep and produce.
Today, you’ll find sundry small farms focused on everything from microgreens and wheat grass to those specializing in honey and maple production, from dairy and cheese farms, to meats, corn, grains, and hops, as well as grape growers and wineries.
And while people all over the country are rediscovering where food comes from, we’ve always known. Much of it comes from here!
Travel expert Carol Cain writes, “. . . truth is a lot of the best of what NYers enjoy in their favorite city restaurants come from upstate, and when it comes to a farm-to-table experience, there is no better place to be” (Girl Gone Travel).
Sure, the word rural comes with its own connotations. Often perceived as a place of rubes and bumpkins, dated terms themselves that intimate a certain lack of sophistication and roughness around one’s edges. But with world-renowned museums and game-changing wineries, Steuben has long been redefining the term rural to mean grand open spaces full of opportunity and wonder.
There are few better ways to experience a place than by interacting with its local farm community. Another great reason to Explore Steuben!
To learn more about the hundreds of agricultural products and experiences in the region, visit FingerLakesFarmCountry.com.
“Boasting a vibrant community of independent farmers raising livestock, operating dairies and growing an array of fruits, grains and vegetables, New York’s Finger Lakes can be proud that eating local has been the norm long before it was trendy.” – Anna Lee C. Iijima, Wine Enthusiast
