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Heritage Farm Opens Its
Arms To Cazenovia Student
Program
Since April, 1985 Heritage Farm,
located on Route 46 in Bouckville, has been
providing individuals with developmental disorders
the opportunity to learn a variety of farming
skills in a rural environment in effort to foster
their independence and a sense of
responsibility.
For a group of four Cazenovia
students with special needs, their twice monthly
visits to the farm are marked with anticipation and
excitement. "The children really enjoy going to the
farm," said Elda Smith, a teaching assistant in
Cazenovia's special education department. "You can
see the enthusiasm on their faces when we get there
and they start doing some of their
jobs."
The students have become
comfortable at the farm and confident in their
ability to complete a variety of tasks. As
participants in the Heritage Farm program students
fulfill a variety of farm responsibilities with
activities involving small livestock, gardening,
folk arts and daily living skills.
Mark Pearsall, who directs the
program at the farm, said one two of the goals are
to integrate classroom skills whenever appropriate
into the actual farm activities, especially those
skills related to communications, social studies,
and math. Another goal of the program is to provide
the students some kind of tangible product from
their efforts at the farm with each visit.
Sometimes the students return to school with a
piece of folk art they made during their visit,
while other times they bring back samples of the
apple sauce they made that morning.
On a recent visit, the students
prepared a breakfast of eggs, sausage, and
pancakes. "The students gain a great deal from
these visits," said Jackie Crockett, a teaching
assistant in the special education program. "They
are to the point now where they automatically know
what their jobs are and they know their way around
the farm. It's really rewarding to see them
enjoying themselves and doing so well."
Most of the regular participants
in the Heritage Farm program live at home with
families while some live in community residences.
The age of participants ranges from five years old
to as old as 78.Over the course of a year services
and programs affect well over 120 people throughout
Madison County.
"The farm is extremely well run
and every time we go there things are organized
perfectly," Mrs. Smith said. "Mark (Pearsall) does
a wonderful job organizing things and he's terrific
with the children. Everyone, no matter what the
handicap is, always feels welcome."
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