Spend your Saturday cuddling with goats and support two good causes during the 20th Anniversary celebration of Catapano Dairy Farm.
On September 2, head to the Peconic farm to celebrate two decades of the pride of the North Fork. Originally founded in 2003 by Karen and Michael Catapano, Catapano Dairy Farm has become a North Fork staple offering goat yoga and selling delicious goat cheeses and goat milk-based skincare products.
“We’re excited to be able to celebrate this milestone,” said the current owner of the farm Erin Argo Burke. “We’re happy to open our farm to the public and have people come meet the goats and see what farming on Long Island means.”
During this family-friendly event, there will be square dancing, pony rides, skincare demonstrations using Catapano’s products, and an array of their award-winning cheeses to sample. Tickets to the event also include a barbeque dinner provided by North Fork Shack – featuring pulled pork, cornbread, and coleslaw.
In addition to numerous activities, a silent auction will also occur throughout the event. Bid on items from Macari Vineyards, Lenz Winery, Satnick Jewelers, The Village Cheese Shop, and more. Proceeds from the auction and ticket sales will go to two important causes: a fund for farm manager Debbie Slack’s cancer treatment and The Southold Mother’s Club, a non-profit family-centered organization that aided in organizing and funding this celebration.
“We’ve already had a tremendous outpour of support from our wholesalers,” said Argo Burke. “People are truly so generous. It’s unbelievable.”
Argo Burke and her husband Connor Burke purchased the dairy farm from the Catapanos in November 2020. With a background in farming – Burke an oyster farmer and Argo Burke growing up around horses in Alabama – the two desired change after the pandemic and knew they wanted to join the farming community. The couple, who purchased a permanent residence on the North Fork in 2018, was familiar with Catapano products and quickly jumped at the opportunity when the farm was listed for sale.
Michael and Karen Catapano allowed their namesake to continue with the farm and two long-term employees, one of which was Slack, agreed to continue working on the farm, making it an easy decision for Burke and Argo Burke.
“It’s such a charming place,” said Argo Burke. “Goats are some of the friendliest, sweetest animals you will ever meet. Although it was a learning curve compared to the horses I grew up around, we had a lot of help. The support has been really encouraging and so we’re excited to celebrate.”
The 20th-anniversary celebration is from 4 to 8 p.m. Tickets can be purchased in advance online and are $50 for adults, $25 for children 12 and under and children 2 and under are free. A rain date is scheduled for Sunday, September 3.
