Celebrating 50 years since it opened to the public as an educational farm, the Alfred B. DelBello Muscoot Farm in Katonah is a place where people of all ages can learn, connect and, above all, enjoy themselves. If you don’t already know Muscoot, this summer – indeed, through the fall of its milestone year – would be the perfect time to visit, or to revisit, if you’re already acquainted.
Muscoot began in the late 1800s as a gentleman’s farm, owned and operated by Ferdinand Hopkins, a wealthy businessman from New York City. Hopkins had purchased several small tenant farms in the Somers area and combined them into one farm, where he could raise dairy cattle while enjoying an escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. By the 1900s, Muscoot had become a fully functioning dairy farm, supplying milk to New York City. The farm itself remained in the Hopkins family until the late 1960s, when Westchester County purchased the land, and in 1975 it was opened to the public for the first time.
In 2016, Muscoot was renamed in memory of Alfred B. DelBello, who served as Westchester County executive from 1974 to ’83 (and later lieutenant governor under Mario M. Cuomo), playing an integral role in preserving the park as an interactive farm during his tenure.
Today, Muscoot Farm offers visitors the chance to experience farm life through a variety of hands-on activities. From maple-sugaring and morning farm chores, to history hikes and a summer camp, the programs are designed to show farming is just as important today as it was when Muscoot was a working dairy farm. Open to the public 362 days a year, the farm is home to many farm animals, including sheep, cows, pigs, horses, donkeys and goats, as well as seven miles of scenic hiking trails and a farmers market that runs Sundays from May through November.
In the new digital age, when personal relationships and social interactions are being eroded, “Muscoot offers the chance to take a step back in time, to learn through hands-on experiences and to be part of a community rooted in education and sustainability,” said farm director Jonathon Benjamin.
Muscoot is one of more than 50 Westchester parks, primarily funded through county taxpayers, said Peter Tartaglia, first deputy commissioner of the county’s Department of Parks, Recreation & Conservation. It recoups some of its cost through revenues and is supported by the Friends of Muscoot Farm, a nonprofit run entirely on donations from the public.
“The farm is also the recipient of grant funding and has relationships with many local organizations.
Recently, Muscoot has been renovated through capital projects, including the historic Main House, walkways, pathways, parking lot and the addition of much-needed restroom facilities.
“It attracts over 200,000 visitors each year, making it one of our top-visited regional recreational facilities,” Tartaglia said.
“While the farm continues to grow and evolve,” Benjamin added, “it remains rooted in the charm and traditions that make Muscoot special.” With new programs, new animals and new opportunities to “make memories,” the farm is looking to the future, he said:
“Muscoot Farm has served the community for 50 years – and we’re just getting started.”
On Sept. 12, the Friends of Muscoot Farm will host an (adults only) anniversary celebration dinner. For tickets, click here. A special anniversary “family weekend of fun” is planned for Sept. 13 and 14.
