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THE FARMERS MUSEUM INC
NEW YORK, NY · EIN 150547367 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE A540 · Arts, Culture & Humanities · Medium ($1M-$10M) · fenimorefarm.org
revenue
$7.4M
expenses
$5.8M
net assets
$78.2M
employees
143
volunteers
52
program ratio
28%
mission · from form 990

CULTIVATING AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE RURAL HERITAGE THAT HAS SHAPED AMERICAN CULTURE.

profile · synthesized from sources

The Farmers Museum in Cooperstown, NY, cultivates understanding of rural heritage through a living history farm and historic buildings. It offers educational programs, exhibitions, and cultural events that explore 19th-century agricultural life and New York State history. The museum features reconstructed and relocated historic structures, heritage animal breeds, and interactive exhibits for visitors.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $683K
    EDUCATION-NEW YORK HISTORY STUDIES
  2. #2 $32K
    LIBRARY NEW YORK HISTORY RESEARCH
named programs · 6 · from sources

What they call their work

Empire State Carousel
Hand-carved carousel featuring 25 animals and panels depicting New York State history and culture, created through volunteer artisan collaboration
Healing Hands that Broke Barriers: New York’s Women in Medicine
Exhibition in Dr. Jackson’s Office exploring the history of women in medicine in New York State
Junior Livestock Show
Annual event showcasing youth participation in animal husbandry and agricultural education
Lippitt Farmstead
Historic farm exhibit featuring heritage breed animals, period-accurate outbuildings, and hands-on agricultural demonstrations including cow milking and poultry care
The Buzz about Pollinators
Interactive exhibit in the Main Barn about pollinators in New York State, their role in agriculture, and conservation efforts
The Country Village
Collection of relocated 19th-century buildings including a blacksmith shop, general store, schoolhouse, and pharmacy, staffed with interpreters demonstrating period crafts and trades
activities · 14 groups

What they do

  • Onsite & Outreach Environmental Education Programs 2 activities
    • Operate seasonal public access and programming
      Reopens annually on April 1st and operates seasonal events including Sugaring Off Sundays in March, featuring maple sugaring demonstrations, and a seasonal Children's Barnyard with lambs, calves, chicks, and cow milking demonstrations.
    • Raise heritage breed animals
      Maintains and raises heritage breed animals including Dominique, Rhode Island Red, and Buff Orpington chickens, as well as Narragansett turkeys, for educational and historical programming purposes.
  • Local History Preservation and Education 1 activity
    • Conduct research in New York history
      Conducts historical research through its library, supporting scholarship and programming related to New York State history and rural American culture.
  • County and Regional Agricultural Fair Management 1 activity
    • Host annual Junior Livestock Show
      Organizes the 78th Annual Junior Livestock Show, featuring over 200 youth handlers and 500 animals from a nine-county region, in collaboration with Cooperative Extension’s 4-H program and Cornell Cooperative Extension educators. The event has been held annually since 1947.
  • Event Venue Rental Services 1 activity
    • Host public and private events at historic venues
      Provides event planning and venue rental services for weddings, receptions, meetings, and conferences at historic locations including Bump Tavern, Cornwallville Church, the Empire State Carousel, and the Louis C. Jones Center, with capacities ranging from 40 to 180 guests. Offers access to approved caterers and boxed or buffet lunch options.
  • Equitable Access Admission Programs 1 activity
    • Offer free and discounted admission programs
      Provides free admission to individuals presenting SNAP benefits (up to four per visit) and participates in the Museums for All program to increase access for low-income audiences. Also offers discounted group admission rates for parties of 10 or more adults.
  • Library-Provided Cultural Access Passes 1 activity
    • Offer joint admission with Fenimore Art Museum
      Provides joint admission tickets that grant access to both The Farmers Museum and the Fenimore Art Museum, enhancing visitor access to regional cultural institutions.
  • Museum and Historical Gift Shops 1 activity
    • Operate museum stores and on-site food services
      Runs Todd’s General Store and a museum store offering 19th-century reproductions, handcrafted goods, and merchandise related to New York and rural American history. Operates the Crossroads Café, serving drinks, sandwiches, and snacks to visitors.
  • Railroad and Canal Heritage Preservation 1 activity
    • Operate the Empire State Carousel
      Operates a hand-carved carousel featuring 25 animals and cultural symbols representing New York State’s history and resources, opened to the public on Memorial Day 2006.
  • Community Festival & Event Production 1 activity
    • Organize annual Scarecrow Village event
      Hosts an annual Scarecrow Village event that invites artists to participate in creating themed scarecrow displays, contributing to seasonal community engagement and public programming.
  • Curated Art Exhibitions and Public Displays 1 activity
    • Present temporary and interactive exhibitions
      Hosts temporary exhibitions such as "Healing Hands that Broke Barriers: New York’s Women in Medicine" and "The Buzz about Pollinators," offering interactive and educational content in dedicated spaces like Dr. Jackson’s Office and the Main Barn Exhibition Space.
  • Free Outdoor & Community Theater Productions 1 activity
    • Produce summer performing arts series
      Presents period farces and musical performances during summer months, including productions by the Templeton Players, such as 'Cox & Box' and 'A Good Night’s Rest,' staged on weekends.
  • Educational Field Trips and Experiential Outings 1 activity
    • Provide educational programming on New York history
      Offers educational experiences focused on New York history through exhibits, school programs, and hands-on learning for K-12 and homeschool groups at Fenimore Farm. Includes the Harvest of History program and guided group tours requiring advance booking.
  • Financial Aid and Scholarship Access Programs 1 activity
    • Provide scholarships for school access
      Offers scholarships to support school group access to educational programs at Fenimore Farm, ensuring equitable participation in museum learning experiences.
  • Accessibility Services for Cultural Programs 1 activity
    • Provide visitor facilities and accessibility services
      Operates restrooms (including handicapped-accessible ones with baby changers), offers two wheelchairs for visitor use, and provides picnic tables across the museum grounds to support visitor comfort and accessibility.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$7.38M
Contributions & grants$912K12%
Program service revenue$922K12%
Investment income$5.55M75%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$5.84M
Program expenses28%
Admin / overhead72%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$3.11M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$78.69M
Cash$21.83M
Investments$54.59M
Liabilities$459K
Net assets$78.23M
Liquid reserves157.0 mo
3 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +176.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 2
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
PAUL D'AMBROSIO PRESIDENT 20 $471K
JOSEPH SIRACUSA VICE PRESIDENT 20 $237K
board members · 13
  • BRENT RIDGE — DIRECTOR
  • DAVID BLISS — DIRECTOR
  • DOUGLAS THOMPSON — DIRECTOR
  • GATES HAWN — DIRECTOR
  • HENRY WEIL — DIRECTOR
  • JAMES PATRICK — DIRECTOR
  • JANE FORBES CLARK — DIRECTOR, CHAIRMAN
  • JEFFREY H PRESSMAN — DIRECTOR
  • JOHN F LAMBERT — DIRECTOR
  • JOSH KILMER-PURCELL — DIRECTOR
  • KEVIN MOORE — DIRECTOR
  • MICHAEL MOFFAT — DIRECTOR VICE CHAIRMAN
  • STEPHEN M DUFF — DIRECTOR
relationships · 20

Who they work with

  • Association of Children’s Museums Network — Administers the Museums for All program in partnership with IMLS.
  • Chobani Funder — Sponsors the Junior Livestock Show.
  • Cooperative Extension’s 4-H program Partner — Collaborates with Fenimore Farm to produce the Junior Livestock Show.
  • Cornell Cooperative Extension County 4-H educators and clubs Partner — Cooperates with Fenimore Farm in conducting the Junior Livestock Show across Central New York.
  • Fenimore Art Museum Government — Holds collections related to Fenimore Farm, such as historical photographs displayed in exhibitions.
  • Fenimore Art Museum Partner — Collaborates on joint admission and visitor access.
  • Fenimore Art Museum Partner — Collaborates on the Museums for All initiative to provide free admission to SNAP recipients.
  • Fenimore Art Museum Partner — Collaborates to provide boxed or buffet lunch options for group visitors.
  • Fenimore Art Museum Partner — Sister museum located directly across the street, with coordinated offerings for weddings and events.
  • Fenimore Farm Network — Operating name or associated brand used by The Farmers Museum Inc for public programming
  • Fenimore Farm Network — THE FARMERS MUSEUM INC operates Fenimore Farm as part of its museum programming.
  • Gerry Holzman Funder — Conceived the Empire State Carousel and contributed to its realization
  • Institute of Museum and Library Services Network — Participates in Museums for All, a program funded and supported by IMLS.
  • Leatherstocking Corporation Partner — Provides on-site services during the Junior Livestock Show.
  • NYCM Insurance Partner — Sponsor of exhibitions including "Healing Hands that Broke Barriers: New York’s Women in Medicine" and "The Buzz about Pollinators".
  • National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum Partner — Collaborates on the Museums for All initiative to provide free admission to SNAP recipients.
  • Nellie and Robert Gipson Partner — Sponsor of exhibitions including "Healing Hands that Broke Barriers: New York’s Women in Medicine" and "The Buzz about Pollinators".
  • Runnings Funder — Sponsors the Junior Livestock Show.
  • Stewart’s Shops Funder — Sponsors the Junior Livestock Show.
  • Templeton Players Partner — Local theater group performing period farces at Fenimore Farm's summer series.
strategies · 5

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Authentic Historical Reconstruction
    methodology: historical reconstruction
    By preserving and reconstructing 19th-century farm buildings using historically accurate methods and designs, the organization strengthens public understanding of rural life, because authenticity in physical environments creates a more credible and immersive educational experience.
  • Cross-Institutional Access Model
    methodology: cross-institutional_access
    By offering joint admission with the Fenimore Art Museum, the organization increases visitation and public engagement with rural heritage, because integrated access lowers barriers and incentivizes broader cultural participation.
  • Experiential Education Model
    methodology: experiential_education
    By immersing visitors in hands-on, interactive, and theatrical learning environments, the organization fosters deeper understanding and engagement with rural heritage and agricultural history, because experiential methods are more effective than passive formats at promoting retention and lifelong interest.
  • Inclusive Access Strategy
    methodology: inclusive_access_program
    By reducing financial and physical barriers to entry through sliding-scale admission and accessible design, the organization cultivates broader public engagement with cultural institutions, because equitable access increases visitation and promotes lifelong learning across diverse populations.
  • Youth Agricultural Engagement Partnership
    methodology: youth-agriculture-partnership
    By partnering with 4-H and Cornell Cooperative Extension, the organization connects youth to agriculture through experiential competition and mentorship, because collaboration with established agricultural education networks amplifies reach and credibility in rural communities.