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Interview Date: Saturday,
3/30/01
Editor's Notes: This interview got me out
of going to the dump.
Just days back from Meriden, Connecticut
where she was named Farm Communicator
of The Year, Chris Fesko graciously agreed to be
interviewed by The Borodino Bullett. On this foggy,
snowy day Chris and I sat in her kitchen while she talked
about their 1200 acre farm, the community, and her
successful video series. A dynamic and spirited woman, this
47-year old farmer, wife and mother of 3, thinks out loud to
organize her thoughts. Her pregnant border collie lay at her
feet at all times, just days away from her expected
"due date".
 Together with her husband Rick Fesko, they
have 5 businesses in their house, including the farm, Chris
Fesko Enterprises, the Discovery
Center, Inc., and DeKalb. Her marriage of over 25-years
to farmer Rick Fesko has produced 3 children: Benjamin 24,
Kimberly 22, and Todd, 16. (Todd narrates on the "Earth
Day on The Farm" video.)
'I love my life. I've had a great
life.' She speaks of growing up on her family's
farm on the "west side of Skaneateles Lake."
Number 2 of seven children, Chris was quite literally her
father's "right hand" after he lost his arm in a
farming accident. She speaks of her father as a very
intelligent man, despite an 8th grade education. "He
had tenacity---willingness to work, and a sense of
humor."
Speaking of a sense of humor, hers always
prevails. She enjoys a jovial repartee with many e-mail
"pen pals" she calls "ag sisters". She
thinks we should maintain a sense of humor in dealing with
life.
She is also a hospice volunteer. She loves helping people
through this threshold, the transition to death, and calls
it is a 'beautiful thing.'
Chris Fesko:
On Fesko's Store
She knows something about this, since George, Bill and Andy
(now deceased) Fesko bought the store in the 1940's.
She would like to see the store reopened but it would
take the purchasing and
tearing down of Marcheterre's property next door. Says it
would take a special type of person, an entrepreneur with a
great deal of faith. (Maybe if she were younger..?)
She thinks farmers possess this quality. Long term
vision, and tremendous faith.
On her community
"Our town is notorious for helping our neighbors. We
are known for tolerating differences.
We've lost both of those things. The biggest (cause of)
erosion in our town is arrogance."
'This side of the lake is the
best. We have the sunsets.'
This working windmill
was built by Amish friend, Stephen
from Pennsylvania last summer after a 3-day stay at the
Fesko home.
On being "rural"
"The most talented, hardworking people live in rural
areas. ' Rural used to mean 8 kids and a farm. Now it means
a half-a-million-dollar house and both parents
working." She refers to the term "planting
houses", as "the last crop."
On their farm
Considers their farm to be the 'greatest natural asset of
this town.'
On Mad Cow Disease
Since Fesko's is (and always has been) a "closed
farm", they don't buy animals in, so
Mad Cow is not an issue for them. (They never feed their
animals other animals as feed.)
On Hoof & Mouth Disease
Birds are very dangerous on a farm; they are carriers of
disease, as illustrated in her Earth
Day video.
Something I'd Like Everyone To Know
Showing me a copy of the Skaneateles
Lake Watershed Program Guidelines, she says "We do
MORE than abide by these. We have practiced this 20 years
BEFORE the Skaneateles Watershed Program.' [More
information below under "Resources"]
Fesko's Farm FAQ's
Fesko's is:
Strictly a Dairy farm (they don't raise calves for veal).
The largest farm in the Skaneateles Lake Watershed.
Conservation Farm of the Year.
Watershed practices are now the nationwide role model.
[>>This photo is courtesy of
www.fesko.com]
On her videos (Chris Fesko Enterprises)
Chris writes, films a successful series of educational
farming videos. The idea occurred to her one day when a
woman stopped at her door (calls these interruptions
"drive-bys"), asking permission to take a picture
of a "black and white cow".
The cow was actually a horse.
Chris saw a teaching opportunity.
 Her first video
won a Telly Award in the
Independent Producer category and a finalist alongside
Sesame Street and Walt Disney Productions.
She now has 7 videos out, available on her website.
There are 2 new ones on the way, slated for Fall release,
one on animals, and one on machinery.
The top sellers in this successful series are the 6th,
and 7-year old "Summer On The Farm" . #1 Sales are
in New York State, #2 Michigan, #3 Indiana, and #4 is
Nebraska, who has now backed her video series in every
school.
Her videos are in every U.S. State and in 13 countries.
She gives speeches about 10 times a year, all referred to her
by word of mouth. She has had speaking engagements as far
away as Denmark (she even speaks Danish) in 1992.
Katie Couric, on The Today Show, recommended one of her
videos, describing it as "refreshing and genuine."
'The sign helped,' Thanks to husband, Rick. [Taken
3/30/01]
Up In The Hills of Spafford: "Click
Here" to see Chris Fesko at her night job
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