Forever Young: The ‘Home Farm’ Family Dance Goes On

Shirley and Walter Adams were honored at this year’s Young family reunion, though they were unable to attend. The family reunion, centered on a square dance and now in its 86th year, was first conceived by Shirley’s father, Philip. The event is intended to keep the memory of Owen D. Young alive and to foster strong ties among the Young family descendants. (Photos provided)

Life Sketches by Terry Berkson

Forever Young: The ‘Home Farm’ Family Dance Goes On

For several years, up until 2019 when COVID cut in, my wife Alice and I attended an August square dance on the sprawling Young “Home Farm,” just outside of the village of Van Hornsville, New York. It was a family affair but, by way of a close friend, we were invited to participate.

The dance was held in the carriage house, one of the original farm buildings that had been cleared out in order to accommodate about a hundred people including a live “Quick Step Band” led by John Kirk on the fiddle and his wife, Trish Miller, on banjo. Both took turns at calling dances. Other musicians, Greg Anderson and Sara Milonovich, lent their skills to produce a very lively barn-rocking sound.

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Life Sketches by Terry Berkson