Biography:
Cheryl is life long resident of Pine Island, New York. A graduate of Orange County Community College where she earned her Associates in Business Administration; Cheryl then earned her Bachelors degree in International Studies from Mt. St. Mary College with a minor in Spanish. Cheryl’s father, Walter, had begun a transition from a commodity, wholesale grower of onions to a vegetable crop farm direct marketing at the retail level. Cheryl began to diversify the farms activities even more so specializing in ethnic crops, specialty vegetables, introducing programs like Community Supported Agriculture to the farm, beginning a catering business known as Black Dirt Gourmet which specializes in using products from regional producers. The farm is involved in such diverse activities as art projects and Literacy programs. Her farm is credited as starting the first low income CSA in the State of New York. When 3 supermarkets in the Town of Warwick shutdown, with the assistance of the Village Mayor, Michael Newhard, Cheryl created and began a special CSA program where the senior citizens could receive a home delivered package of produce throughout the growing season. In 2003 Cheryl and her family along with Just Food were co-recipients of the first national Glynwood harvest award, Glynwood Harvest Connecting Communities, Farmers and Food Award. In 2004 Cheryl and her family received the Orange Environment award for their land stewardship and farming practices which help to protect the environment. In 2004 Cheryl was one of 23 persons throughout the country to receive a MacArthur Fellowship. Cheryl is the first farmer in the history of the Mac Arthur to receive this fellowship. As a result of receiving the Mac Arthur award Cheryl was honored by the Orange County, New York Legislature with a Distinguished Service Award and by Mt. St. Mary College with a distinguished alumni award for her efforts in promoting the agricultural industry as a whole. In 2006 Cheryl was named a Women of Distinction to the New York State Senate by Sr. Morahan. Most recently Cheryl received the Pinnacle of Leadership award from Leadership Orange and was named citizen of the year by the Pine Island Chamber of Commerce,
In addition to her many public speaking engagements, Cheryl is a frequent demonstrator of what to do with all the produce you just bought at the farmers market. In 2000 Cheryl traveled to Mozambique, Africa as part of a mission team that ministered to an Aids orphanage, interpreting for the medical team, building shelves and offering support in whatever capacity needed.
Cheryl is a 1999 graduate of Leadership Orange and a 2005 graduate of Lead NY, a statewide leadership program specializing in the agriculture and food industry. Cheryl has served on the Board of Directors of the NYS Direct Farm Marketing Association. She presently serves on the following committees and boards:
•Wallkill River Valley Drainage Improvement Association - Secretary
•Agricultural Advisory Committee to Orange County Cornell Cooperative Extension, Middletown, NY
•Agricultural Advisory Committee to Cornell Community Food and Agriculture Program – Ithaca, NY
•Advisory Committee to Hudson Valley Slow Food Convivium
•Warwick Valley Central School District Agriculture program – Advisor
•Warwick Valley FFA Foundation – Board of Directors
•Advisor to Pine Island Elementary School Garden Club
•Lectorer at St. Stanislaus Church, Pine Island, NY
Sustainable Warwick
Monday May 19, 2008
Warwick Town Hall - Senior Center
Local Agriculture
November 3, 2007 - Step it Up Warwick, NY
April 26, 2007
Homestead Florida -
April 21, 2007
Warwick Valley Central Middle School 1:00PM
Food and Fuel
April 19, 2007
St. Mark's Historic Landmark Fund
Third Annual Lecture: April 19, 6:30 pm
Local Food Panel
The "Buy Local" Movement and its Role in Promoting Economic Stability
Farmer Cheryl Rogowski will be participating in the panel that will discuss local food and the role of New York City residents in preserving and supporting our regional farmland. The St. Mark's Historic Landmark Fund is dedicated to the preservation of the historic St. Mark's Church in-the-Bowery site. The Local Food Panel is a fitting topic for this lecture series as it reflects the organization's commitment to community preservation and celebrates the greenmarket in front of St. Mark's Church, which is one of the oldest greenmarkets in New York City .
The event will take place in the parish hall of St. Mark's Church in-the-Bowery, 131 East 10th Street ( 2nd Ave. ) in Manhattan . The discussion will be followed by a reception with wine provided by Union Square Wine & Spirits. Attendance is free of charge but reservations are required. Click here for more information
March 30, 2007
Growing Home
Sprout Creek Farm, Poughkeepsie, NY
March 6, 2007
Warren County Garden Club
January 9, 2007
Women in Agriculture Network, Pennsylvania Farm Show
Keynote Speaker
July 27, 2006
Noted farmer speaks at Pioneer Valley Women’s Agriculture Network Meeting
Cheryl Rogowski, MacArthur ‘genius’ awardee, tells farmers to ‘work smarter, not harder’
