West Sand Lake's June Farms casting, hiring for reality-TV pilot

2022-05-13 04:17:41 By : Ms. Vicky Jiang

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A Nigerian dwarf goat at June Farms in  West Sand Lake.

The Pony Barn at June Farms. It has a bar and dining area inside and an open second-floor event space. The attached stone cabin, previously used for overnight accommodations, has been converted into a commercial kitchen.

June Farms owner Matt Baumgartner. Over the years he founded multiple bars and restaurants in the Capital Region including Bombers Burrito Bar and Wolff's Biergarten, both now sold.

A 2018 wedding at June Farms in  West Sand Lake was the subject of an episode of the makeover series "Backyard Envy" on Bravo in 2019.

Among the overnight accommodations at June Farms in  West Sand Lake is an Airstream trailer with a hot tub. Nearby cabins have fire pits.

June Farms in  West Sand Lake hosts events including a dog park.

Animals at June Farms in  West Sand Lake include Gloucestershire Old Spots pigs.

The wedding pergola June Farms in West Sand Lake.

The entry drive to June Farms in West Sand Lake. Cattle pasture is on the right.

The interior of the Pony Barn at June Farms in West Sand Lake. 

The playful Fern, among the Scottish Highland cattle at June Farms in  West Sand Lake.

WEST SAND LAKE — June Farms, the event venue and bar with rolling fields, bucolic woodlands and resident animals, is hiring staff members for the season who will also be part of a pilot episode being developed for a potential reality series, the owner said.

Longtime Capital Region restaurateur Matt Baumgartner said an experienced production company that develops shows for cable channels and streaming services has a commitment from what Baumgartner described as a "major streaming service" to shoot a pilot over two or three weeks in May or June for a reality show about life at June Farms. The pilot is a precursor to what would become a series that potentially would film for months to come, Baumgartner said. He said he was precluded from naming the production company or streaming service at present.

The owner of the Los Angeles-based production company on Wednesday confirmed that shooting will take place. Given the sensitive nature of final negotiations, he asked that his company not be named. He said there is interest from multiple distribution partners and is confident the June Farms show will be seen by audiences.  

Seven staff/cast members have been hired, with three key positions still unfilled, including head gardener and event/wedding planner,  Baumgartner said. June Farms also has other employees who will not be on camera.

Because this is a casting call for TV as well as a job posting for an event venue, headshots are required in addition to resumés, Baumgartner said. Application information is available at instagram.com/junefarms.

The TV crew is expected to shoot for several weeks as June Farms' spring season begins, with two weddings and multiple private parties already scheduled and regular food and drink service for the public set to start Memorial Day weekend. June Farms is also open daily year-round for walking tours of its 120 acres of fields, forests and an animal population that includes Shire horses, shaggy Scottish Highland cattle, Nigerian dwarf goats, Tamworth and Gloucestershire Old Spots pigs, chickens, ducks, barn cats named Ginger and Rogers and the farm dog, Frank. Since opening in 2017, June Farms has expanded to offer cabins, tipis and an Airstream trailer for overnight guests.

"The pilot will be about getting everything up and running, me trying to manage a new staff and make sure everything gets taken care of," Baumgartner said. June Farms has been considered for pilots in the past but no standalone show has resulted, Baumgartner said. A 2018 wedding at June Farms was the subject of a 2019 episode of the Bravo makeover series "Backyard Envy."

Food service for the farm's Pony Barn bar, snack bar and all events is being overseen this season by Will Brown, a longtime senior chef for Clifton Park-based Mazzone Hospitality who now runs his own company, Crafted Catering + Events. In addition to June Farms' outdoor pizza oven, a commercial kitchen has been added, and a catering tent will be built, Baumgartner said.

Since founding Bombers Burrito Bar in fall 1997, Baumgartner has opened multiple bars and restaurants, including Wolff's Biergarten, most of which he has closed or sold off over the years. His primary focus now is June Farms.

Elsewhere in regional restaurant-related reality TV, a family that owns three Lake George restaurants was the subject of a four-episode Food Network series called "Summer Rush" that aired in 2020.

Steve Barnes has worked at the Times Union since 1996, served as arts editor for six years, and since 2005 has been a senior writer. He generally covers restaurants, food and the arts, and is the Times Union's restaurant columnist and theater critic. Steve was also a journalism instructor at the University at Albany for 12 years. You can reach him at sbarnes@timesunion.com or 518-454-5489.