With the leaves just beginning to fall, there was plenty of food and plenty of farmers at Saturday’s Rondout Valley Growers Association (RVGA) Hoedown at Marbletown Park.

At one table, youngsters painted pumpkins. In a small enclosure, two lambs, Persimmon and Plum, cropped the grass.

Among those attending were several Ulster County officials, including the new Economic Development Director, Leslie Wellington, and the new Agriculture Czar, Katherine DeWitt.

Kicking things off was Matthew Igoe, the RVGA’s current executive director. He explained that this was the 19th year the association had celebrated the pumpkin season with its Hoedown.

Longtime residents recalled that the Hoedown began as a potluck organized by local farmers.

Deb Dewan, the association’s former executive director, noted that an agricultural revolution is taking place in the county. Leslie Wellington reported that women make up 43% of Ulster County’s current farmers, although farmers nationwide are facing a difficult time.

Amberly Campbell, assistant deputy to the county executive, emceed the introductions of county officials and read a proclamation from County Executive Jen Metzger.

The proclamation noted that the United Nations had declared 2026 the “International Year of the Woman Farmer,” recognizing the essential roles women play in agriculture. It acknowledged the challenges facing the industry, including soaring production costs, climate change, and increasingly difficult weather conditions. It also highlighted longstanding barriers for women, including limited access to land and social bias rooted in stereotypes.

The proclamation described mid-sized farms as the backbone of Ulster County’s agricultural sector and called on residents to honor the county’s women farmers. It also paid tribute to the farmers of the Rondout Valley Growers Association.

At one point, women farmers lined up across the stage area for a group photo.

Then a country-rock-bluegrass band from Vermont struck up the music, and the dancing began.