Ronald Osofsky, a dairy farmer who came to the rescue of a competitor by replacing cows and cattle lost in devastating fire, died May 13 at the age of 81.
Osofsky was born in 1941 to Helen and David Osofsky. He and his three siblings were raised on their “Home Farm” on Schultz Hill Road in Pine Plains.
After graduating from Pine Plains High School, Osofsky went on to the University of Rhode Island. Osofsky decided to major in Animal Science. After graduating from college in 1962, he returned to work at the farm.
Barry Chase, of Chase Home Farm, grew up next door to the Osofsky family. Chase and Osofsky were only eight months apart in age. The two families were close and continue to be now. Chase and Osfosky remained lifelong friends. Their children remain deeply connected and the roots are long-nurtured.
Chase described a fire at Millerhurst Farm in 2018, where all cows were lost but one.
“The heffers were about to calve and Ronny stepped up,” Chase said Tuesday. “He provided shelter and milked the heffers. Ronny gave them a home until Millerhurst Farm’s barn was rebuilt.”
Osofsky began dreaming of starting his own farm and moved a few miles down the road to begin working at a more modern milking facility on Route 82. By this time, he had fallen in love with Kathleen Freney. They married and welcomed three children — Jonathan, Carey and Daniel. Osofsky became increasingly interested in dairy cattle genetics and the Hudson Valley region was generating interest for dairy farming purposes.
This allowed Osofsky to expand his business endeavors and focus wholeheartedly on his passion for dairy farming. It was around this time that Osofsky purchased the old Deleval Research Farm on Prospect Hill Road, which is now the current location of Ronnybrook Farm Dairy.
Osofsky’s daughter, Carey Osofsky Alberg, said Tuesday that the family held a memorial gathering on his favorite spot on the farm, known as Globe Hill.
About 300 people were in attendance. Many told stories about Osofsky. Some were former employees — children employed over the years and left a lasting impression on them.
A common theme in the stories was how rare it was to see Osofsky angry. Osofsky was proud of being a dairy farmer and took the time to have meaningful interactions with all people he encountered.
“My father has been cremated and his ashes will be spread out on the farm,” Carey Osofsky Alberg said.
Source: hudsonvalley360.com
