The assemblywoman was on hand for Sunday's TAUNY Folklife Fair, a celebration of 25 years of North Country Heritage Awards. The event featured demonstrations, music and regional foods.
"I start a lot of my speeches with I'm the seventh generation of my family to call the North Country home so having a place like this, that celebrates the heritage of my ancestors and your ancestors, is pretty special," Assemblywoman Jenne said.
"Focusing on that connection we have to the past and on the skills, towns and people that have made this place what it is for hundreds and thousands of years is truly special," she added.
TAUNY has presented awards to recipients for their mastery of local traditions and commitment to the conservation of community spaces since 1993.
"The fact that you are here today to celebrate it just reinforces the feelings I have," Assemblywoman Jenne told the large crowd on hand for the event.
"TAUNY works every year to broaden us, to highlight the different facets of our community and our heritage. They build relationships that enable our community to truly understand our past and, by doing that, we can better chart our future," she said.
"It's really special. Many places in the state or the country don’t have organizations like this," she pointed out. "I thank you all for supporting it and continuing to talk about the greatness that is here in the North Country."
TAUNY has held an event each fall for the past 25 years, now known as the Salute to North Country Heritage, to recognize masters of their crafts, as well as places and organizations that make the region special. TAUNY has handed out 129 Heritage Awards since 1993.
Varick Chittenden, the founding director of TAUNY, said the North Country Heritage Awards are meant to honor the women and men who've devoted themselves to keeping important traditions alive and inspiring others to pursue them in the future.
The categories for the Heritage Awards include inherited traditions, adopted traditions and very special places.
The final category – evergreen – recognizes individuals, groups, businesses and programs for their continued interest in and support of traditional cultures, arts and artists; their active facilitation of skill-learning and sharing across generations; and their efforts to increase public understanding and appreciation of living traditions in the region.
Assemblywoman Jenne praised Executive Director Jill Breit for her leadership of TAUNY. She has been a driving force here at TAUNY over the years, she noted.
The assemblywoman said she had an opportunity to see several of the folk arts demonstrations and exhibits that were on display in galleries on both floors of the TAUNY building.
She said the TAUNY demonstrations featured basket makers, rug braiders, guitar makers, carvers, model boat makers, horticulturists, blacksmiths, foragers and folkloric portrait painters. Fiddlers also kept the crowd entertained throughout the afternoon.
"It was a great afternoon, and it's amazing to see the talent in our region. I had the opportunity to talk with folks like Dave Nichols about the guitars and inlays he’s been working on for decades, horticulturist Bill MacKentley about his work, Dulli Tengeler about life at Birdsfoot Farm and Jack Taylor about his woodcarving. It was also fascinating to see the baskets, rugs and model boats made by local artists," Assemblywoman Jenne said.
"It was literally a walk through my own family's history as I had a chance to see so many of the traditional arts that have been part of our North Country's history. TAUNY truly is a North Country treasure," Assemblywoman Jenne said.
She recently announced she had secured $10,000 in state funding to assist TAUNY make improvements to its demonstration kitchen.
IN THE PHOTOS:
TOP PHOTO:
Bill MacKentley, a horticulturist and 2017 Heritage Award winner, discusses his work with Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne. Mr. MacKentley developed his skills after starting as an apprentice with legendary north country farmer Fred Ashworth over 50 years ago. During that apprenticeship, Mr. Ashworth shared is vast knowledge about trees, especially edible fruit and nut trees that survive and thrive in sub-zero climates. After years of working with Mr. Ashworth, Bill and his wife Diana started St. Lawrence Nurseries where they continued until their recent retirement to find and graft scores of new and heirloom varieties.
BOTTOM PHOTOS:
Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne addresses the crowd Sunday at TAUNY's Folklife Festival in Canton.
Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne visits with Dave Nichols, a luthier and cusom inlay maker from Whippleville in Franklin County. He was a Heritage Award winner in 2000.
Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne listens as Dulli Tengeler explains the mission of Birdsfoot Farm, a communal farm in Canton. Birdsfoot Farm has been growing certified organic vegetables, flowers, and herbs for over 40 years. Birdsfoot is on TAUNY's Register of Very Special Places in the North Country.
Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne talks to Morristown woodcarver Jack Taylor about his work. Mr. Taylor retired after a long and distinguished career as an administrator at St. Lawrence University.
Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne chats with one of the artists demonstrating their talents at TAUNY's Folklife Fair.
TAUNY Executive Director Jill Breit
TAUNY Founding Director Varick Chittenden. Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne credited Mr. Chittenden for his vision in creating an organization that has focuses on the region's rich history.
Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne
Assemblywoman Addie A.E. Jenne watches Loretta Lepkowski, a folkloric portrait painter, work Sunday at TAUNY's Folklife Fair.
