Her Business Builds Farmer Image

Her Business Builds Farmer Image 27-6-7 Chris Fesko was tired of the way farmers were being portrayed to the non-farm majority by educators, media and in the entertainment business, too. "There's too much misinformation out there about who we are and what we do," says Fesko, Skaneateles, New York. She runs a 1,200-acre dairy farm with her husband, Rick. Instead of complaining, she rolled up her sleeves and went to work. She started by producing a series of six "On the Farm" videos. They include Summer on the Farm I & II, Winter on the Farm, Fixin' on the Farm, Every Day is Earth Day on the Farm and, her latest, Do Pigs Scratch Their Backs? (and other questions on the farm). The tapes are being sold to day care centers, elementary schools, civic groups, nursing homes, and even to car dealerships where they've been put to use entertaining young children of customers. The videos, about 30 minutes in length, have won four Telly Awards, three Parent's Choice awards and a number of other awards and acknowledgments, competing against Disney and other film companies. Fesko has also made herself available to local, regional, and even national groups as a speaker and workshop leader to educate non-farmers of all ages. Finally, taking her mission a step further, Chris and Rick turned a 100-year-old barn on their farm into a Discovery Center, where people of all ages can come for a day or longer and learn about life on the farm. At the scenic Discovery Center, Fesko demonstrates not only farm life, but also shows how math, science and language arts are integrated into every day farm life. There are hands-on activities that engage most of the senses. A number of open houses are scheduled for the general public during the year, but most of the visitors come on prearranged field trips and group visits. Fesko says that while she's working for a cause, her company, Chris Fesko Enterprises LLC, is also making a profit in marketing her videos and through her speaking engagements, and operation of the Discovery Center. Her videos are available in a number of locations around the country, including The Machine Shed Restaurant chain. They're also on Amazon.com. Or you can order from her by telephone or on her website. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Chris Fesko Enterprises LLC, 1181 Woodworth Road, Skaneateles, N.Y. 13152 (ph 800 747-6470 or 315 636-8044; Fax 315 636-9101; email: chris@fesko.com; website: www.fesko.com).

To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click here to register with your account number.