By Faith Cain Baldwinsville, N.Y. (N.C.C. NEWS) One of the only farms still standing in Baldwinsville, New York is a fifth generation farm home to none other than the Abbott Family. Windsor Abbott is the fourth generation who works on the farm. He works over 10 hours a day, six days a week, and is 85 years old.
The family purchased the farm a year after the Civil War. Generations after generations, the Abbott family has studied agriculture and run the family business. The farm eventually evolved into a full-season U-pick and entertainment destination for Central New Yorkers.
New Yorkers can grab bags and search through dozens of rows of apples and pick them right off the tree. They can also enjoy apple cider and many other sights at the farm.
Windsor works 60 hours a week, but his wife Nancy Abbott works in the kitchen. Their love story is part of the reason their farm has stayed growing. They have been married for over 60 years ago and met in third grade.
“The teacher in third grade plumped me in front of him and he was the typical boy. Monkeying around taking erasers off the end of pencils and things like that,” Nancy said.
Over the next couple of years things never changed. At the time, Windsor was never interested in women because he loved woodworking and anything to do with agriculture, but Nancy never stopped falling for him. In the fifth grade she already knew who she wanted to marry.
“She started praying for me,” Windsor said.
“I said I want to marry Windsor,” Nancy said.
They spent most of their time in a 4-H club getting to know each other. Every weekend they would meet up with some friends to go square dancing. Windsor wanted someone who could cook for him every meal, while she wanted a farmer, and eventually they married.
New Yorkers can go to Abbott Farm Monday through Thursday from 10 am to 6 pm. Friday and Saturday 10 am to 9 pm and Sundays 11 am to 6 pm.
