For More Information, Contact:
Kathy Joyce, 570-268-5055 or 570-265-7455

For Immediate Release
June 5, 2009

Celebrate Local Heritage With 5th Annual Ag Heritage Day

Agriculture. It is the industry that has shaped our local culture and economy for the past 100 years or more. From the butter and milk once shipped from Bradford County to the Naval Academy in Annapolis to Bradford County's current standing as 2nd (only to Lancaster County) in dairy production for the Commonwealth.

Join us Friday, July 3 from 10:30 AM to 3 pm as we celebrate our farm heritage and so many other aspects of agriculture in our communities - dairy, fruits, vegetables, beef animals, eggs, cheeses, and the farm-based crafts that often accompany the farms (spinning, weaving, baskets, soaps). Demonstrations and performances will occur in and around Washington Street Station throughout the afternoon.

The Northern Tier Cultural Alliance will have copies of its’ brand new DVD, “The Barns and Agriculture of Pennsylvania’s Northern Tier: A 2008 Portrait” for sale. This film is the culmination of an 18 month project focusing on regional barns – their architecture, uses and history.

The Endless Mountains Visitors Bureau will be present and have information about area wineries and fun things to see and do in our region and representatives of the Northern Tier Buy Fresh Buy Local chapter will have information about the program and offer an opportunity to join.

Deb Schildt will demonstrate loom weaving. In her weaving, Deb specializes in scarves. She likes to blend old and new, often starting with an old pattern like log cabin, but then making it her own by using new brighter colors for a new look . The Home Textile Museum will have a display and the Cats Cradle Spinning Guild will be demonstrating spinning and other fiber arts from an earlier era updated by today’s members.

Traditional basketmaker Patty Dillman will demonstrate willow basket making. Dillman grows the willow herself and uses patterns learned from old baskets found in the Northern Tier region.

In addition to Ag Heritage Day demonstrations and displays, visitors can enjoy tasting and purchasing local foods at the Towanda Farmer's Market at the south end of the Station. The Market is a "Grower-only" market which offers consumers an opportunity to "put a face on your food" by getting to know local farmers and talk with them about their agricultural practices.

Current Vendors at the 2009 Towanda Farmers Market include:

• Sue and Aaron Bullock, BackAchers Farm, North Rome, with maple products, a full range of fresh vegetables, eggs, chicken, pork products, beef and more.
• Bernard Jurkowski of Inn to the Seasons, Canton, with goat milk ricotta products including cheesecakes, fudge, manicotti and pierogies, plus his own pork products and baked goods
• Diane and Phil Fiorentino, The Herb Corner, Gillett, with fresh produce, herbs and flowers and dried herbs

New vendors are likely to have joined by July.

Ag Heritage Day, organized by the Northern Tier Cultural Alliance is a continuation of the organization's efforts to increase the awareness and appreciation of the economic, aesthetic and cultural importance of agriculture as a viable industry in our region.

The Northern Tier Cultural Alliance (NTCA) was formed in 1995 by volunteers who had been engaged in a cultural inventory of the area as part of a 1992 Pennsylvania Heritage Commission project. NTCA is a private, non-profit organization that works to promote knowledge of the art, history and culture - particularly the folk culture - of north central Pennsylvania over a ten-county service area.

For more information on NTCA and its programs, visit www.ntculturalalliance.org or call the office at 570-265-7455. For further information about the July 3 Ag Heritage Day, contact Kathy Joyce at the PA North Country Artisan Center and Store at 570-268-5055.

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