In celebration of Pride Month in June, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County (CCE-Suffolk) – in collaboration with Stony Brook Medicine – will host Pride at the Farm on Friday, June 10, 2022, at the Suffolk County Farm and Education Center at 350 Yaphank Avenue. This free, family-oriented event will run from 4:00pm to 7:00pm.
“One of our most important goals is to create an inclusive environment for our staff and community,” said Vanessa Pino Lockel, Executive Director of CCE-Suffolk. “Pride at the Farm is a creative, engaging way to meet that goal and to let our LGBTQ+ staff and community members know that we value their contributions to the organization and to the county. Our farm, a safe and welcoming space for families, is an ideal spot for our celebration of the freedom of love.”
The 220-acre working farm offers hands-on education about Long Island’s agricultural heritage while showcasing modern practices. Guests at the event will have the chance to visit with animals including llamas, horses, goats, pigs, and chickens. They will be able to tour the facility on the back of an open-air tractor wagon. Crafts, music, dancing, and rainbow-themed treats will round out the festivities.
The centerpiece of the day will be Drag Queen Story Hour, in which drag queens will read tales to children. “Especially on eastern Long Island, there needs to be more events like this,” remarked Bella Noche, a drag queen who presented Story Hour last year. “We have a strong community and a strong group of allies, but we need greater representation, because the more events we have like this, the more we get to know each other, as Long Islanders.”
Representatives of Stony Brook Medicine will be on hand to provide educational resources to youth and adults.
Last year, Pride at the Farm drew approximately 350 people of all ages. Individuals, couples, and families enjoyed Story Hour and the hayride, created jewelry and hair art with faux flowers and pipe cleaners, and painted a mural to memorialize the festival.
Affiliated with Cornell University, CCE-Suffolk is a non-profit community-education agency that serves Suffolk County with agriculture, marine, community-education, and 4-H Youth Development programs. The educators, researchers, specialists, and support personnel who constitute the organization are dedicated to making Suffolk County a desirable place to live and work. The organization’s DEIB (Diversity, Equality, Inclusivity, and Belonging) committee organized the event.
Pride at the Farm will be open to all. Visit https://rebrand.ly/CCEPride for more information and to register. You may also contact Vicki Fleming, 4-H Youth Development Director/Farm Administrator, at vjf4@cornell.edu or 631-852-4602.