Western NY Hard Cider Tour - Registration Closed- contact Craig at cjk37@cornell.edu - if any spots are still available
Event Details
Date
June 14, 2024
Time
10am - 3:45pm
Location
Starts at Clarksburg Cider
4493 Walden Ave
Lancaster, NY 14086
Cost
Standard Registration : $5.00
(addl attendee $5.00 ea.)
Complimentary Registration for Cornell and CCE Employees : Free
Host
Lake Ontario Fruit Program
Join specialists and researchers from CCE and Cornell on tour across WNY to local Cideries and orchards as they discuss production, varieties, agri-entertainment, cider varieties, and current trials.
Sponsored by the Cornell Hard Cider Program Work Team & The New York Cider Association
Agenda:
10 AM-11 AM: Stop 1 - Clarksburg Cider, 4493 Walden Ave., Lancaster 14086 https://clarksburgcider.com/
- Hosted by Michael Robb (owner) and Isabella Pucci-Schaefer (cidermaker)
- Short Tour of Production Facilities
- Optional tasting
Travel to stop 2, ~36 minutes, 11-11:40 AM
11:40 AM- 1 PM: Stop 2 - Becker Farms & Vizcarra Vineyards, 3724 Quaker Rd., Gasport 14067
https://www.beckerfarms.com/br...
- Hosted by Mindy Vizcarra
- Lunch
- Optional tasting
- Agri-entertainment, how beverages fit in, how its grown
- Program Announcements, Upcoming Events, etc. (NYCA/CCE/Cornell)
- Production Tour
Travel to stop 3, ~15 minutes, 1-1:15 PM
1:20 PM - 2:20 PM: Stop 3 - Donovan Orchards Estate Ciders, 8503 Lower Lake Rd., Barker 14012
- Hosted by Scott Donovan
- Orchard Tour
- Production tour
- Low intervention cider making techniques
- Focus on cider varieties
- Optional tasting
Travel to Stop 4 ~17 minutes, 2:20-2:40 PM
2:40-3:45 PM: Stop 4 - LynOaken Farms & Steampunk Cider, 11540 Platten Rd., Lyndonville 14098
https://www.lynoakenfarms.com/ https://www.steampunkcider.com/
- Hosted by Christopher & Jonathan Oakes
- High density hard cider block
- Cornell trials
- Production tour
3:45 PM ADJOURN, or the option to head to the tasting room at LynOaken Farms Market & Winery for a tasting or purchase at 10609 Ridge Road Medina NY, 14103 (~11 minutes)

Upcoming Events
2026 Orleans County - DEC Certified Pesticide Applicator License Pre-Exam Training
March 9, 2026 : DEC Certified Applicator Pre-Exam Training Day 1
Albion, NY
This training is only for those with experience and does not qualify for the 30-hour official DEC training - you are exempt from the 30 hour training (and eligible for this coaching session) if you have pesticide application experience, either through working on your own farm or through employment on another farm.
March 13, 2026 : DEC Certified Applicator Pre-Exam Training Day 2
Albion, NY
This training is only for those with experience and does not qualify for the 30-hour official DEC training - you are exempt from the 30 hour training (and eligible for this coaching session) if you have pesticide application experience, either through working on your own farm or through employment on another farm.
2026 Orleans County - DEC Certified Pesticide Applicator License Exam
March 16, 2026
Albion, NY
A Certification Exam will be administered on March 16th by the DEC to Qualified Applicants. Plan to arrive by 8:30am. The fee for the exam is $100: bring a check payable to NYSDEC the day of the exam. You must register with DEC to take the exam. To register for the exam or if you have questions regarding the Certification Process, please contact Justin Schoff at the Bath DEC office (607) 622-8290.
Postharvest Water Management, Sanitation, and Traceability Workshop
March 18, 2026
Albion, NY
Cornell University personnel from the National GAPs Program and the Produce Safety Alliance are presenting a workshop on postharvest water management, sanitation, and traceability. This workshop will include a mix of short talks and hands-on activities to provide attendees with applied experience with sanitation, postharvest water, and traceability topics.
2.75 NYSDEC CEU's in categories 10, 1a, 22, and 23 available.
