A publication of the SUNY Cobleskill Writers Group
Treasuring Sullivan County
By Emily Carey
Sullivan County has many hidden and forgotten wonders within its borders. Concealed beneath the dust in our museums and buried in the memories of long-time Sullivan County residents, lay the stories of the county in the Catskills that put itself on the map. Today, many people do not remember what gave this place such rich cultural history—summer culture that became known and desired throughout the world, and the love for peace and music that was cultivated and stemmed from what was supposed to be a small festival.
Agricultural Advocacy: Making a Difference
By Kathryn Bosley
I am an agricultural advocate or “agvocate” for short. I started “agvocating” for the dairy industry on social media almost two years ago, because I believe I can make a difference.
I Wish I Could Remember 9/12
By Kathryn Bosley
I was only an infant when 9/11 happened.
I don’t remember where I was.
I don’t remember staring, gaping jaw at the tv,
Trying to swallow what was happening before my eyes.
Media and Agriculture: Fighting the Stigma
By Shelby Fichter
Smear campaigns against farmers have taken hold of the media. From celebrities spreading false information in acceptance speeches, to propaganda-based food documentaries and carefully edited secret videos, farmers are in a media battle where they have lost control of the narrative.
Lessons from a Centenarian
By Alana Rose Lamerand
A centenarian is, by definition, a person who has reached 100 years of age or older. These unique individuals often hold a major accomplishment of longevity and wisdom, which has been attained over the span of a century. The first question that tends to pop into one’s mind when we think of someone who has lived over such an extensive period of time is how do they do it? Now, if you asked my great-grandmother Agnes Post Van Put, she’d humbly tell you to never skip out on the ice cream for breakfast.
Loneliness
By Lakeisha Wright
Your life is no match to her loneliness.
Not only is she alone; it’s beginning to become her happiness
The Backfield
By Liane Griffith
I always associate the backfield with my two best friends. I think this is because they were the best part of my childhood; neighbors by chance, best friends by choice.
COVID-19, Mental Illness, and the Double-Edged Sword that Connects Them
By Shelby Fichter
When I first heard that the college was on a two-week lockdown last March, I was able to breath a sign of relief. Plenty of time to relax and work on schoolwork, and a break from dealing with my roommate. I wasn’t worried about the rest of the semester, as it didn’t seem that bad. I would see my professors after the two weeks and carry on with the semester and continue to enjoy my special project with the horse I was training at school. However, as we all know now, this was very much a false sense of security.
God’s Help in Self-Recognition
By Lauren Howard
November is a special month in my book as my birthday falls into Sagittarius season, but November is also significant to the women and men of orange, red plaid, and camouflage. Deer season starts up a few days before my birthday every year and takes over the lives of thousands as they seek to bring home dinner for their families.
Inattentive
By Isha
You don’t know, you weren’t there.
You didn’t feel the stillness
despite my restless pacing
anticipating a reaction unknown.
Purpose
By Calen Hamilton
The days are long and dry
Pointless even,
It’s not hard to figure out why
It’s cold and dark
I’m ready to get out of this cold,
I’m ready to make my mark
Time
By Melena Thornton
Growing up you don’t worry about time too much, but as you grow older, you realize the real importance of time. You began to cling to time, as you once clung to your mother.
Finding My Way with My Heart
By Karin Walker
What is love? That is the question that is thought about through countless minds but there is no one answer to this. It is a genuine feeling that rushes through you and it comes in many forms and is enacted through many gestures.
Women in Agriculture: Actions Speak Louder Than Words
By Kathryn Bosley
Picture a farmer in your mind. What do you see? An old man in overalls and a straw hat? A young man in a Carhartt coat and rubber boots? Or maybe, do you see a woman too?
Pandemic Living
By Isha
I am a mother, wife, student, employee, friend. All these hats have me in constant motion, but the pandemic has stilled the wheel a bit. No longer is the stress of social interactions weighing heavily.
Thirty-Two
By Liane Griffith
They say age is just a number, but it can be so much more than that. It can be an expectation. It can be a crossroads. It can also be an awakening. What does it mean to be thirty-two?
The Price of Education in a Pandemic
By Emily Carey
Because of the pandemic and the need to go to remote instruction, college students across the country are experiencing a new way of existence: being apart from friends and listening to their professors teach valuable information through computers, while spending thousands of dollars.
Diversity and Inclusion on Campus
By Mia McKinney
When I was 12 years old, I watched a 1995 film by director John Singleton called Higher Learning. It was about college freshmen adapting to college life while facing serious problems like racism and discrimination. This film was so profound in its raw and real portrait of race and how, even on campuses, racial tension is still an issue.