FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
Date: September 3, 2026 
Contact: Audrey Schwartzberg, ANCA Communications Director, [email protected], 518.891.6200

 

ANCA and Bike Adirondacks Announce Bike the Barns Routes and Stops
September 26 ride will be based at Essex County Fairgrounds

 

WESTPORT, N.Y. — The Adirondack North Country Association (ANCA) and Bike Adirondacks have announced the route and tour stops for this year’s Bike the Barns — a half-day bicycle tour that engages participants with North Country farms and producers, entrepreneurs, communities, and artisans who are critical to the region’s economic and cultural vitality. Starting and ending at the historic Essex County Fairgrounds in Westport, N.Y., the scenic route will take cyclists to farms and other points of interest in New York’s Champlain Valley. 

Set for Saturday, September 26, 2026, the morning ride will begin at the Fairgrounds, with stops at Juniper Hill Farm in Wadhams, N.Y. and the Whallonsburg Grange Hall and Whitcomb’s Arts in Essex, N.Y.  The event offers riders two route options of approximately 21 and 29 miles, with all riders gathering at the Fairgrounds for a finish-line celebration featuring local food and drink, live music, and raffle.

“Our ninth Bike the Barns offers a unique opportunity to explore the intersection of our region’s rural landscapes and the food and artisan entrepreneurs whose vision and hard work supports sustainable working communities,” said ANCA Deputy Director Zach Hobbs. “This year’s ride will highlight communities, partners and craftspeople who make this such an amazing place to live and visit.

“From high quality organic produce to arts, entertainment and gathering spaces — Juniper Hill Farm, the Whallonsburg Grange, Whitcomb’s Arts and the Essex County Fairgrounds offer products, services and opportunities that enrich our rural region. We are grateful to all of them for participating in the event and sharing their insights with riders.”

ANCA, a regional economic development nonprofit based in Saranac Lake, established Bike the Barns in 2016 to increase awareness about local food issues and engagement with the small farms and businesses that are instrumental to the health and vitality of local economies and rural communities. 

“There is something truly special about experiencing the beauty of the Champlain Valley and its rich agricultural history by bike, especially in fall,” said Doug Haney, owner of Bike Adirondacks, a Saranac Lake-based company that coordinates local cycling events. “Bike the Barns allows guests to slow down and truly connect with the landscape while knowing they’re supporting the people who care for it.”

Based at the recently renovated Floral Hall, one of several historic buildings at the Essex County Fairgrounds, the Bike the Barns finish-line celebration will feature a locally sourced meal prepared by ADK Food Therapy of Plattsburgh, N.Y., beverages by Ausable Brewing Company of Keeseville, N.Y., live music by Adirondack-based “cosmic country” band The Midnight Stargazers, and a raffle of prizes donated by local businesses.

Three stops will offer riders the chance to engage with local leaders and entrepreneurs who are creating economic and cultural opportunities for the small communities they serve.

Established in 2007, Juniper Hill Farm started growing on three acres of land in Wadhams, N.Y. They now cultivate over one hundred acres and are continuously adding more greenhouses with a goal of bringing their wide variety of organic vegetables, herbs and fruit to market earlier in the season.

Built in 1915, the historic Whallonsburg Grange Hall now serves as a community gathering place in the small town of Essex, N.Y. The volunteer-run nonprofit hosts concerts, films, theater, lectures, classes, workshops and community events, carrying on the Grange’s long tradition of bringing people together. With ANCA’s assistance, the Town of Essex was able to secure various funding sources to install a solar array on the building’s roof in 2023, significantly reducing its energy costs and carbon footprint.

The Grange also operates Whitcomb’s Arts, a neighboring arts and community space with studios, galleries, gardens and gathering space. The historic building is the former home of Whitcomb’s Garage, which operated from the 1920s to the late 1990s. The Grange purchased the building in 2018.

Event proceeds support ANCA’s work with North Country farmers, entrepreneurs, and regional partners aimed at strengthening farms and small businesses, improving local food access, and helping communities build economic resilience. ANCA connects food producers and small business owners with low- and no-interest funding, grant support, and a range of business and technical assistance to help them expand their capacity and markets. 

The $133 registration fee for Bike the Barns includes a clearly marked route, mechanical support, tour stops, a raffle ticket, and a finish-line celebration with local food, beverages and live music. Learn more and register at www.adirondack.org/btb.

ANCA is a regional nonprofit and economic hub building shared prosperity across northern New York. Focused on small businesses, climate & energy, local food systems, and welcoming & belonging, ANCA works to ensure the long-term viability of the North Country, empowering individual wellbeing, economic strength, and regional stewardship. ANCA works with individuals, groups, and communities across 14 counties to navigate resources, cultivate networks, generate economic and community solutions, build shared capacity, and shape region-boosting narratives.

 

Provided: two (2) photos, courtesy of ANCA:

Photo 1: 2025 Bike the Barns participants begin their ride from Camp Dudley in Westport, N.Y.
Photo 2: 2025 Bike the Barns riders stretch their legs at DaCy Meadow Farm in Westport, N.Y. 


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