Blood, Sweat, Tears and Milk

If you're a local farmer, foodie or locavore, here's something right up your alley. Mohawk Harvest Cooperative Market will present a screening of the film "The First Season" at the Glove Theatre on June 15. The co-op folks hooked me up with a preview of the documentary, and I can tell you I'll never again take the cream in my coffee for granted. The film shows the incredible effort and energy that go into the production of the milk we drink.

The film's director, Rudd Simmons, and its subjects, Paul and Phyllis Van Amburg of Sharon Springs, will be on hand to talk with guests about the film and the farm. Scroll down for a video interview with Simmons and Phyllis Van Amburg from the film's debut at the Slamdance Film Festival.Here's the article appearing in today's print edition.

Co-op to screen farm documentary at the Glove

GLOVERSVILLE — In conjunction with the The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s “Know your Farmer, Know your Food” initiative, Mohawk Harvest Cooperative Market will sponsor a local screening of the documentary film “The First Season.” The film documents Paul and Phyllis Van Amburg’s first year operating a dairy farm. The couple’s Dharma Lea Farm, in Sharon Springs, has sold dairy products at the co-op since it opened in 2009 in downtown Gloversville.

The film will be shown at 6:45 p.m. June 15 at the Glove Performing Arts Center, 42 N. Main St. The doors will open at 6 p.m., and those who attend will be invited to sample foods from the Van Amburgs’ farm. The couple will be present along with Rudd Simmons, the producer and director of the documentary. They will participate in a discussion of the film after the screening.

Mohawk Harvest Manager Chris Curro said supporting local farmers and other producers — and connecting them with local consumers — is an important part of the co-op’s mission.

“It’s a very insightful portrait of what it takes to start up a dairy farm,” Curro said of the film. “It’s a heartwrenching and heartwarming view of the emotional and physical trials and tribulations of our local producers.”

“The First Season,” Simmons’ directorial debut, was presented at the 2012 Slamdance Film Festival in Utah. The film “bears witness to the Van Amburgs’ struggle as they fight against relentless toil, financial ruin and the harsh reality of dairy farming to achieve their version of the American Dream,” according to introductory remarks on the Slamdance website , where the film trailer can be seen. Simmons’ credits as a film and television producer include “Dead Man Walking,” “High Fidelity” and the first season of the HBO series “Boardwalk Empire.”

Admission to the film screening will cost $3 for co-op members and $5 for others. For more information, call Mohawk Harvest at 706-0681 or see www.mohawkharvest.org.