A Golden Ticket
Sunflowers bring out the smiles during Dancing Grain Farm and Brewery’s autumn glory.
By: Megin Potter
Photos Curtesy of Dancing Grain
Sunflowers are happy flowers that have been cultivated for thousands of years. During this September’s Sunflower Festival, Dancing Grain Farm and Brewery is once again inviting the public to their 10 acres of sunflower fields in Moreau to delight in the one million bright blooms planted there.
“This is not your average fall farm attraction. It’s about the land, the crops, and the products we’re making. I encourage everyone to come down and experience it for themselves,” said farm owner Rachel McDermott.
Captivating the Senses
Sunflowers symbolize warmth and friendship while stimulating the imagination. Their cheery yellow heads pop out from the landscape in a satisfying show of color. Adding to their beauty, sunflower seeds are a tasty and nutritious snack for you and the birds.
Sunflowers are also a short-season rotational crop that second-generation farmer Rachel McDermott planted in 2022 (the first season they opened Dancing Grain Farm and Brewery to the public).
Building on the sustainability and production potential of the bountiful fields where malting barley is harvested for their diverse selection of beers, trial plots of buckwheat and sunflowers were planted to help protect the soil from wind and rain erosion, help to build organic matter, and improve overall health in the soil that becomes depleted by monocropping methods (that sustainable farming practices strive to remedy).
Both crops did well despite a drought that brought only ½ inch of rain between July 10th and September 1st, stunting the sunflowers’ height. During the first week of September, nearly two inches of rain fell, bringing the fields to life – and the public to the farm in droves, said Rachel.
“That’s when I said, ‘We have to do sunflowers forevermore.’”
Settling In
With plenty of room to spread out, Dancing Grain Farm and Brewery grew to serve the large numbers of people flocking there, adding a second parking lot, signage, and other safety measures.
This year, they’ve expanded their outdoor seating options to accommodate more than 265 people outdoors at solid wood picnic tables and on comfortable Adirondack-style chairs overlooking the harmony of color in the fields below.
Planted in the first week of July, the oilseed sunflowers in Dancing Grain’s fields bloom 50 to 60 days after planting and reach maturity approximately a month later. Their single, large heads stand out next to the surrounding fields of grass, winter-hearty triticale (a super-grain that resembles wheat), and wildflowers including zinnias, dahlias, and branching sunflowers.
During the Sunflower Festival, musicians including the Rich Clements Band fire-up the crowd from the “Wanda’s Wagon” stage, while they enjoy food from Tres Mijas of Glens Falls, Ted’s Fish Fry, Darling Donuts, and others.
Families are encouraged to fly kites, explore the field trails at their leisure, pick sunflowers to bring home, and take pictures at the six photo prop stations. To avoid others profiting off the scenery without permission, no photo equipment (other than cell phones) is allowed in the fields without the purchase of a three-hour photographer’s pass.
Drinking it Up
And, of course, there’s the beer. Crafted mainly from ingredients harvested on-site, these field-to-glass brews are a unique taste of the North Country. ‘Let Love Grow Wild’ with seasonal varieties including the complex rustic charm and wild spirit of “Farmer’s Daughter”; the rich, malty “Oktoberfest” with its sweet, smooth, chocolatey flavor; and the tartness of “Kiss My Peach”, made with 600 lbs of peaches hand-picked and hand-processed from Bowman Orchards in Clifton Park.
“It’s a labor-intensive process, but you can definitely taste the difference,” said Rachel. For her, working a 12-hour day is considered a short shift. Dancing Grain’s staff is putting in extra hours this season, too, she said, all to ensure everyone who visits the farm has a wonderful time making lasting memories.
Nourishing the Body and Soul
Every Sunday, the Sunflower Festival hosts yoga in the fields with Kristen Zorda, owner of Saratoga’s Yoga Mandali, and feature a rotating line of vendors at their Saturday Maker’s Markets, including on September 14th, Schuylerville’s Kickstart Café, roasters of a special Guatemalan blend coffee that gives Dancing Grains’ “Blonde Stout” its distinct character.
“People hug me and say, ‘Thank you so much for being here and creating a space like this so close to our homes,’” said Rachel. “This is a place where people feel comfortable bringing family, friends, their children, and dogs. They want to be on the land that creates great beer.”
“We’re doing more than growing a commodity, we’re taking care of the land, nourishing the body and the soul.”
Taking the Chill Off
This Fall, Dancing Grain Farm and Brewery will be adding a trebuchet for pumpkin chucking, food from Carnivore BBQ, Cousin’s Maine Lobster, and more. Open year-round, as the weather cools, Dancing Grain, a Buffalo Bills Backers Bar, heats up with tailgating and watch parties.
The newly launched Founder’s Club gives the public a front-row seat to all the action. Founders Club members are included in the next phase of the farm (finishing the barn to create a larger covered space that helps insulate Dancing Grain from seasonal weather shifts).
“What I do out here requires a lot of faith and is based mostly on luck – when preparation meets opportunity. It’s hard to do what we do as farmers, being at the helm of Mother Nature, but it’s tremendously rewarding to see what we plan come to fruition. Because we’re so reliant on Mother Nature for a successful year, we believe in putting her first through regenerative farming and inviting the public to share in that process. We’re responsible for the world around us, let’s take care of it together, ” said Rachel.
Dancing Grain Farm and Brewery, 180 Old West Road, Moreau, is open Wednesday 3pm – 8pm, Thursday & Friday 2pm – 9pm, Saturday 12pm – 9pm, and Sunday 12pm – 7pm.
Sunflower Festival tickets include 5 PYO sunflower stems, $3/each additional. Weds. & Thurs. $15, Fri. – Sun. $20. Children age 5 – 16 $10; under 5 FREE.
For more information go to @ dancing_grain on Instagram, @dancinggrain on Facebook, email info@dancinggrain.com, and visit https://dancinggrain.com.