Meet Me in Marlborough is launching a new video series highlighting the farmers and winemakers who contribute to the town’s agricultural heritage and economy.

The “Meet the Farmers & Winemakers” series was presented to the Marlborough Town Board on Sept. 28 by Jackie Rivera, a Marlborough resident and SUNY New Paltz student who has served as a nonprofit marketing assistant intern with Meet Me in Marlborough since April.

Rivera, a sophomore double majoring in marketing and international business with a minor in business analytics, said the project has given her a greater appreciation for her hometown and the agricultural community that surrounds it.

“I never understood the hard work that farmers and winemakers over many generations have dedicated to make Marlborough what it is today, the Tuscany of the Hudson Valley,” Rivera told the board.

Rivera has conducted 10 interviews for the series, visiting Prospect Hill Orchards, Quartz Rock Vineyard, Stout Ridge Distillery and Winery, Trapani Farms, Quimby Farm, Lawrence Farms Orchards, DeBlase Farms, Benmar Winery, Fiore Vineyard and Hudson River Food Distributors.

The interviews are intended to give residents and visitors insight into the lives and work of local farmers and winemakers while showcasing Marlborough’s agricultural history.

Rivera said the experience has also strengthened her connection to the community.

“It was not until I became actively involved in this interview project as an intern that I realized how much of this community can remain undiscovered,” she said. “The stories that these hard workers were willing to share with me have been truly inspiring.”

The completed interviews will be released throughout October and hosted on a dedicated page on the Meet Me in Marlborough website. The organization plans to promote the series through social media, newsletters, press releases and potentially through local partners.

The project is intended to support agricultural sustainability and promote Marlborough as a Hudson Valley destination.

The series will conclude with an “Honoring Marlborough’s Agriculture” celebration at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 18 at The Falcon Underground. The event also will feature Katie Down’s Sound Stories project.

The presentation also recognized another Meet Me in Marlborough intern, Ava Todisco, a Marlborough High School senior who began her internship in May.
Todisco’s primary responsibility has been maintaining the organization’s online community calendar. She told the board she has entered nearly 100 local events during her five months with the organization, helping residents stay informed while giving local businesses and organizations another way to publicize their activities.

“I have learned so much about all the different local businesses and organizations in Marlborough,” Todisco said.

Rivera also highlighted other work she has completed during her internship, including social media coverage of the Blossom Street Fair, a tutorial about gift certificates offered by local businesses and a short-form video promoting participants in the Tuscany of the Hudson Valley weekend event.

Both interns were thanked for their contributions to Meet Me in Marlborough and the community.