The Second Annual Youth Agritourism Retreat: Two Days on the Land in Ulster County
Each summer, our interns leave behind the markets, CSA boxes, and greenhouse for two days in the farms and fields of Ulster County, NY. This August, the Second Annual Youth Agritourism Retreat brought UBHP interns together with NEFOC members, local farmers, and community partners for a trip focused on hands-on learning, cultural connection, and rest.
Day One: Hudson Valley Farm Hub, Esopus Agricultural Center, and Kingston Land Trust
The trip began at Hudson Valley Farm Hub, where interns toured the farm and learned how it supports the next generation of farmers in the region. After that, the group had lunch with the Kingston YMCA Farm Project and The Sylvia Center, hiked Red Fox Ravine, and visited the Esopus Agricultural Center before camping for the night at Kingston Land Trust (Land In Black Hands).
Last summer, interns toured the Collard Greens field at Hudson Valley Farm Hub. This year, they returned to harvest seeds as part of the Purple Ultracross Collard Project. This initiative honors collard-growing traditions, expands biodiversity, and preserves heirloom varieties for the future. Collard greens are important in African American foodways, symbolizing resilience, survival, and the sharing of food across generations. They are a key part of Southern cuisine and a living symbol of heritage in the African diaspora. Seeing our interns go from touring the field to harvesting seeds in just a year shows what this retreat is really about: continuity.
The Sylvia Center also led a cooking workshop with the Kingston YMCA Farm Project. Teens from Kingston YMCA and UBHP interns cooked together and learned how to make Mexican Street Corn Casserole from scratch.
Day One’s public programming was made possible by NEFOC. They made the event possible and gave NEFOC members and interns a chance to learn about Legacy Planting from Tamara Dumay, founder of Ministry of Healing Farm. The day ended with a dinner by Chef Yanique (Yunique) Palmer, and everyone camped under the stars at Kingston Land Trust.
We also want to thank two people who worked behind the scenes to make this retreat happen. Special thanks to Wendy Wu, who managed the planning from start to finish and kept everything running smoothly. Thank you also to Shaniqua Bowden, whose partnership and support made both this year’s and last year’s Youth Agritourism Retreat possible.
Day Two: The Ulster County Fair
On the second day, the group went to the Ulster County Fair to finish the retreat together. They swapped farm fields for fairgrounds and ended the trip on a high note.
This part of the retreat was possible thanks to support from the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets and the 2026 Transportation for Youth to County and Local Fairs Program. This program funds transportation and related costs so youth groups can attend county and local fairs during the 2026 season. It aims to boost youth attendance and help them appreciate agriculture and domestic arts. Successful projects highlight local agriculture and teach young people about the industry, just like our interns experienced.
Why This Retreat Matters
The Youth Agritourism Retreat gives our interns something they don’t always get from markets and internships: time on the land, away from the city, learning directly from farmers and from each other. It connects them to agricultural heritage, introduces them to people building the region’s food systems, and reminds them that their work at UBHP is part of something bigger.
Thank you to Hudson Valley Farm Hub, Kingston YMCA Farm Project, The Sylvia Center, Esopus Agricultural Center, Kingston Land Trust, Ministry of Healing Farm, NEFOC, and the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets for making this year’s retreat possible. Thanks also to every intern who came ready to learn, hike, camp, and connect with the land over these two days.
