By JOSHUA THOMAS

C-S-E Editor

MINDEN — On Sunday afternoon, the 12th annual Sundae on the Farm was held at Morgandy Farms, Minden. Morgandy Farms, owned by Wendy W. Ayers, is the first Montgomery County horse farm to host the event.

Along with the ability to view Morgandy Farms’ current batch of 34 registered Morgan horses, there were breed demonstrations by Quality Stables, Oneonta, along with vendors, booths and displays aimed at providing educational facts about Montgomery County agriculture.

Of Sundae on the Farm, Wendy Ayers, who is also a Montgomery County Farm Bureau board member, said, “I think it’s really important for agriculture, especially for people who aren’t involved in it to get an understanding of it.”

She continued, “Opening up your farm and letting people walk through and ask questions is very positive.” Ayers noted that one of the goals of the event is not only to draw locals, but to draw people from the city who have limited exposure to such hands-on agricultural experiences.

Ayers said she was notified by the Montgomery County Farm Bureau that they wished to hold Sundae on the Farm on her property in November during her first meeting with the group. Event preparation included “making everything look nice,” said Ayers, explaining that it involved grounds maintenance such as cutting the grass, painting and making general improvements. While the process was mostly done by Wendy and her husband, Ken, leading up to the event, family and MCFB members were on premises the week prior helping to set up.

The MCFB secures various exhibitors to set up educational displays at the event, this year inside one of the Morgandy Farms stable buildings.

One such exhibitor was Mike Gleason, of Mike’s Antique Milkers, Herkimer. Gleason displayed a wide variety of antique milking machines, of which he currently has 65 total, along with their manuals, at his Herkimer display space.

The first in line on a table of interesting machines was Gleason’s favorite, an antique wooden milker that he obtained by purchasing a large collection of items. He restored the wood, and gets great joy from displaying the piece, which he does frequently. While Gleason said he’s fond of his entire collection, the wooden milker, which he was recently offered $4,000 for, is one he absolutely refuses to part with. “I preserved history,” he said of the machine, noting that the process of restoring and displaying it has been worth more than just money. Gleason joked that he tells interested potential buyers, “talk to my wife and kids when I die.”

Across the road, Quality Stables, of Oneonta, provided Morgan horse demonstrations, while owner Jackie Ross announced breed details of the Morgan, which she referred to as “the first original breed of America”.

While Morgandy Farms horses weren’t used in the demonstrations, as Morgandy Farms specializes in breeding, not showing, the demonstrations gave people a detailed idea of the versatility of the Morgan, which can be utilized in riding, driving, working the fields and maneuvering obstacles.

Traits of the breed include its chiseled face, prominent eyes, short ears, and laid back shoulder. The horse travels with a “steady, even motion,” Ross explained, while riders Cassidy and Kirstin Qua, 9 and 17 respectively, showed attendees how to show a horse in competition, having them travel in a pattern, circle, reverse and trot.

Kristin — riding since she was only one — currently has a dream to become a hypnotherapist, utilizing the Morgan horse. She has already started a riding program for special needs children, and stated of the chance to show off the Morgan to people who might not know about it, “I think it’s exciting. I love this, and I’m planning on making it a career.”

More images in the Seen section.