Dutchess County Fair - Legacy of Agriculture & Community

Faith and Ashley practically grew up at the Dutchess County Fair.

From raising dairy goats and beef cattle through 4-H to competing in livestock showmanship, their childhoods were deeply connected to agriculture. Today, they've taken on a new role as members of the Dutchess County Junior Fair Board.

In this episode, Faith and Ashley explain what it actually takes to prepare and show livestock, the bond that develops between an exhibitor and an animal, and the life skills young people gain through 4-H.

They also discuss why educating fairgoers about livestock, farming and where their food comes from matters — and what it means to watch another generation of children discover agriculture inside the same barns where they grew up.

As Faith puts it, once you become part of the fair, the fair is always a part of you.
Meet two of the young leaders helping carry the agricultural legacy of the Dutchess County Fair into the next generation.

How do you move an entire carnival hundreds of miles and have it ready to open again just days later?

Corky and Tracy of Powers Amusements take us behind the scenes of the enormous operation responsible for the midway at the Dutchess County Fair in Rhinebeck, New York.

With roughly 130 trailer loads of equipment and approximately 44 rides at the fair, moving the carnival requires an incredible combination of logistics, mechanics, inspections, transportation, staffing and teamwork.

We also discover the multigenerational family behind the business, how million-dollar amusement rides are purchased and maintained, what goes into ride safety, and how technology is changing the modern carnival.

The lights and rides may be what fairgoers see — but there's an entire traveling city operating behind them.

Welcome behind the scenes of Powers Amusements at the Dutchess County Fair.

Go inside the Miracle of Life and Salute to Agriculture exhibits at the Dutchess County Fair in Rhinebeck, New York.

Melissa Weingartner and longtime agricultural educator Rich Knievel take us behind the scenes of one of the fair's most fascinating experiences — where visitors can learn about livestock, dairy farming, animal care and even witness the birth of a calf from just feet away.

From Belgian draft horses and Nubian goats to a mother pig with eight piglets, the Salute to Agriculture tent gives families an up-close look at farm life while helping the next generation understand where their food comes from.

After roughly 30 years educating fairgoers through the Miracle of Life exhibit, Rich shares a simple goal for every family who visits: put the phones away, experience agriculture firsthand and leave having learned something new.

Host Suzanne Rajczi, interviews John Hardeman of Hardeman Orchards about his family’s multi-generational fruit-farming legacy in Dutchess County and longtime support of the Dutchess County Fair. John recounts how his father became farm manager in 1951, the farm’s shift from cows to a nationally known Morgan horse operation, and the orchard’s growth and evolution toward retail as wholesale markets declined. 

He explains why the Hudson Valley is ideal for fruit due to its river microclimate and elevation, discusses apple varieties and seasonality, and details year-round orchard work including pruning, spraying for apple scab, integrated pest management, and pollination. John also describes controlled-atmosphere storage, cider-making methods and pasteurization requirements, challenges from weather and labor, and what goes into his well-known apple cider donuts at the fair.


00:00 Welcome to the Podcast
01:08 Hardeman Family Roots
03:14 Orchard Size and Markets
04:14 Where Apples Began
06:06 Why Hudson Valley Works
07:31 Soil and Apple Flavor
08:37 Apple Varieties and Seasons
10:31 Tree Traits and Hardiness
12:42 Retail vs Wholesale Shift
15:35 Controlled Atmosphere Storage
20:21 Picking Windows and Timing
21:30 Year Round Orchard Work
22:45 Spring Sprays and Scab
26:32 Frost Protection Tactics
30:07 Weather Shifts and Snowpack
31:39 Summer IPM and Pollination
33:26 Bloom to Harvest Timeline
35:45 Tree Age and Market Trends
37:38 Color, Sun, and Sports
38:35 Why Red Delicious Failed
39:15 Modern High Density Orchards
41:12 Weather Risks and Irrigation
43:55 Best Apples for Eating and Baking
45:59 Cider Rules and Pasteurization
47:54 How Apple Cider Is Made
51:19 Can You Start Farming Today
54:38 Labor Crunch and H2A Workers
58:38 Rising Costs and Regulations
01:00:28 Why Local Agriculture Matters
01:02:03 Secrets of Cider Donuts
01:04:11 Duchess County Fair Legacy
01:10:49 Final Thanks and Wrap Up

Host Suzanne Rajczi, welcomes Deb Scannell, a rabbit breeder and superintendent of the rabbit barn at the Dutchess County Fair, to discuss rabbits, guinea pigs (cavies), and youth agriculture education. Debbie shares how she began raising rabbits as a child, later joined 4-H with her daughter, expanded into guinea pigs and goats, and became involved with national breeder associations and breed standards. She explains rabbit categories (wool, fancy, meat), common breeds she raises (Polish, Mini Rex, Holland Lop, Dutch, Flemish Giant), basic care needs, heat management, and breeding realities, including gestation and litter sizes. Debbie compares guinea pig care and 72-day gestation, outlines breeds she keeps, and recommends sourcing animals through 4-H or the SPCA. She highlights 4-H’s benefits, fair activities like showmanship and costume class, and school outreach through Ag in the Classroom, and notes the Dutchess County Fair’s 180th anniversary opening Tuesday, August 25 in Rhinebeck.


TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro
01:39 Debbie’s Animal Journey
02:10 4-H and Showing Circuit
04:26 Breed Standards Explained
06:08 Temperament and Handling
07:48 Rabbit Categories and Breeds
11:34 Flemish Giants and More
13:52 Starter Pets and Daily Care
17:26 Breeding Basics and Nest Boxes
19:35 Guinea Pig Varieties
21:56 Where to Get Pets Responsibly
25:55 Fair Shows and Newborn Care
28:38 Choosing the Right Rabbit
29:45 Fair Leadership Journey
31:09 Educating Visitors at the Barn
32:29 Costume Class Explained
34:30 Entries Breeds and Care
37:38 Why 4-H Builds Leaders
39:26 School Outreach with Rabbits
41:14 Joining 4-H Costs and Clubs
47:22 Rabbit Startup Costs and Feeding
51:26 Final Takeaways and Farewell

Host Suzanne Rajczi visits Birchland Acres, a 15-acre Dutchess County family farm dating to the 1800s, and speaks with Michelle and Jeff Hicks about their diversified operation raising Black Angus and crossbred cattle, pigs, and poultry. Jeff shares the farm’s evolution from a larger property with pigs, a slaughterhouse, dairy cows, and horses to today’s beef focus, while Michelle explains breed origins, associations, EPDs, frame scores, box beef standards, crossbreeding, calving, and breeding methods including AI and sexed semen. They discuss daily and seasonal farm work, pasture and winter management, costs and land needs, and their commitment to raising the meat they eat. The conversation also highlights their roles supporting 4-H/FFA youth and the Dutchess County Fair livestock sale, including how auctions work and how proceeds support kids and scholarships.


TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Podcast Welcome
01:27 Birchland Origins
02:21 Pigs and Slaughterhouse Days
04:46 Horses to Cattle Shift
05:43 4H Selection Day
07:43 Steers and Fair Sales
09:41 Angus Breed Basics
11:37 EPDs and Standards
14:38 Crossbreeding for Beef
15:44 Calving and Weaning
18:17 Breed Colors and Longevity
21:53 Pigs and Chickens
25:19 Raising Farm Kids
28:18 Daily Chores and Seasons
33:36 Breeding and AI Explained
35:07 Sourcing Bull Semen
35:45 Sexed Semen Explained
37:31 Embryos and Bloodlines
38:13 Real Costs of Cattle
41:09 Land and Acreage Math
43:10 Hay Feeding Economics
44:31 Organic vs All Natural
46:13 Seasonal Herd Cycle
49:01 4-H and Fair Leadership
51:25 Training Show Animals
57:02 Livestock Auction Basics
01:02:17 Advice and Wrap Up

Host Suzanne Rajczi, visits Cooper Lane Farms with Katie Hines and Bob Ferris to explore the farm’s history and how it evolved from a former dairy property into an operation focused on hay, sweet corn, and local food education. Bob discusses hand-picked sweet corn, hay production and crop rotation, and the challenges and satisfaction of sustaining agriculture, including land conservation and changing economics. Katie shares her 4-H journey from Cloverbud through showing and selling Southdown sheep at the Dutchess County Fair, detailing sheep care, lambing, and animal stewardship for quality meat and wool. She also explains how she built Zo’s Ice Cream, emphasizing small-batch production, local sourcing, the “cow to cone in three days” model, seasonal flavors like sweet corn ice cream, and educational school programs connecting kids to where food comes from, ahead of the Dutchess County Fair’s 180th anniversary.

00:00 Podcast Welcome
02:34 Sweet Corn Work
04:27 Hay Fields Rotation
07:53 Animals and Aging
08:41 Katie 4H Journey
11:02 Fair Auction Lessons
14:57 Sheep Care Basics
18:55 Local Lamb Quality
21:21 Zoes Ice Cream Story
23:27 Local Flavors Ingredients
24:20 Sweet Corn Flavor
26:13 Sourcing Local Ingredients
31:52 Future of Local Farming
38:25 Advice for Young Farmers
43:11 Sheep Raising Basics
46:32 Podcast Wrap and Fair

Step into the powerful world of Percheron draft horses and carriage driving in this episode of Monday Moments. Host Suzanne Rajczi, speaks with Frank Castella of Castle Carriage about the history, strength, and legacy of these incredible horses from their origins as medieval warhorses in France to their vital role in American agriculture.

Frank shares how he trains draft horses using trust and consistency, breaks down hitch terminology, and explains how teams are built for parades, weddings, competitions, and even film work. He also tells the story of acquiring his first Percheron and building a life around these animals.

A highlight of this episode is the inspiring Warrior Wagon Veterans Appreciation Project—an accessible, military-themed wagon Frank designed to honor service members. From 2014 to 2024, the project recognized nearly 600 veterans and public servants, blending agriculture, craftsmanship, and patriotism.

If you’re interested in horses, farming, history, or honoring those who serve, this episode delivers.

00:51 Meet Frank Castella 
02:02 Percheron Origins and Warhorses
04:47 Hitches and Horsemen Basics 
06:30 Draft Breeds Compared 
10:06 Size Weight and Farm Work 
12:48 First Percheron at the Fair 
16:07 Building Teams and Wagons 
23:31 Training with Kindness 
27:30 Trust Building Timeline 
29:33 Breaking Cart Gone Wrong 
32:09 Warrior Wagon Origins 
43:36 Impact Honoring 600 Heroes 
46:49 Hitch Roles And Training 
49:03 Driving Cues And Control 
50:25 Favorite Horses And Joy 
52:33 Youth And Agriculture Future 
56:47 Final Thanks And Fair Promo

Discover the vital role honeybees play in pollination, agriculture, and our food supply in this episode of Monday Moments. Host Suzanne Rajczi sits down with beekeeper Michael 
 Vlei Forge Apiary, in Rhinebeck, NY, to explore the fascinating world of beekeeping in the Hudson Valley.

From hive structure and bee lifecycles to raw honey production and pollination economics, this episode breaks down how bees impact everything from local farms to global food systems. Michael shares his journey from professional horseshoer to beekeeper, along with insights on hive management, swarming, winter survival, and transporting bees for crop pollination.

We also dive into major threats facing honeybees today, including pesticides, habitat loss, weather changes, and varroa mites—plus how organic beekeeping practices can help.
If you’ve ever wondered how bees make honey, how to start beekeeping, or why bees are essential to agriculture, this episode is for you.



TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Welcome to the Podcast 
02:45 Western Honeybee Basics 
04:41 Pollination Economics 
06:27 How Bees Navigate Home 
09:45 Bee Life Cycle Explained 
13:37 Winter Survival and Feeding 
15:43 Swarming and Space Management 
17:29 Hive Architecture Tour 
20:28 Queen Marking and Stings 
24:43 Hudson Valley Nectar Flows 
29:17 Fairground Apiary and Organic Care 
31:03 Mites and Bee Biosecurity 
34:21 Dutchess County Fair 
38:03 Bee Stressors and Habitat 
40:00 Starting Beekeeping Tips 
46:04 Real Honey vs Adulteration 
49:10 Harvesting and Bottling Honey 
50:59 Honey Varieties and Judging 
56:45 Comb Honey and Wax 
58:44 Helping Bees at Home 
01:00:40 Stings and Protective Gear 

Host Suzanne Rajczi visits Soukup Farms in Dover Plains, New York, to learn from Mark and Jennifer Soukup about their multigenerational maple operation and its ties to the Dutchess County Fair’s working sugar shack. They discuss the farm’s history from a pre–Civil War orchard to today’s 150 acres owned, 500+ farmed, and 3,000+ tapped trees, along with sustainable forest management and proper tapping practices. The episode explains how sap becomes syrup through reverse osmosis, boiling on an evaporator, and hot filtering, including the “rule of 87” and how weather-driven freeze-thaw cycles determine season timing, sap flow, and syrup grades from golden to very dark. The Soukups also highlight community education via maple weekends, school and bus tours, and value-added products like maple sugar, cream, candy, and sauces.

00:00 Welcome to Soukup Farms 
05:00 Maple Varieties Explained
06:14 Jennifer Joins the Operation
07:14 Evaporator and Filtering
09:16 Reverse Osmosis Basics
10:35 Weather and Sap Season
15:10 Tapping, Tubing, and Workflow
20:44 Boiling Hours and Yield Math
26:02 Flavor Profiles by Color
31:08 Tours and Maple Weekends
34:16 Dutchess Fair Sugar Shack
40:37 Cooking with Maple Syrup
41:27 Real vs Imitation Syrup
43:51 Value Added Maple Products
45:50 Closing and Next Episodes