NEW SCOTLAND — Peter Gansevoort Ten Eyck II, a farmer on the forefront of sustainable agriculture, worked throughout his life to raise public awareness of the critical importance of local agriculture.

He died peacefully at his home on Indian Ladder Farms, in the town of New Scotland, on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025, with his wife, Rose-Marie, by his side. He was 87.

“Peter was born on Aug. 27, 1938 to his mother, Ann Suderley Ten Eyck, and his father, Peter Gansevoort Dedrick Ten Eyck,” his family wrote in a tribute. “He grew up on Indian Ladder Farms. Peter spent his youth attending the Albany Academy and working on the farm.

“He went on to graduate from Cornell University’s School of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Peter was drafted into the United States Army in 1961, serving until 1963 when he returned home to work for his family’s two businesses, the Ten Eyck Insurance Agency and Indian Ladder Farms.

“Under Peter's guidance, with assistance from family members and essential staff, Indian Ladder Farms evolved from primarily a wholesale business to a highly diversified direct-to-consumer enterprise. Peter introduced the farm’s retail store, apple pick-your-own and farm tours for school field trips.

“He brought in a cider press and started production of Indian Ladder Farms’ famous cider doughnuts. He planted raspberries and blueberries and worked with Cornell to cultivate an experimental apple orchard where new varieties were tested for disease resistance and yield. Due to Peter’s efforts, Indian Ladder Farms was one of the first farms to implement purification of apple cider with ultraviolet light.

“Working with the family’s next generation, Peter helped lay the groundwork for the farm’s production of hard cider and beer using ingredients grown on the farm. Peter worked continuously throughout his life to raise public awareness of the critical importance of local agriculture.

“Always at the forefront of sustainable agriculture, Peter led Indian Ladder Farms in joining a group of EcoCertified apple growers in New England and New York using ecology-based agricultural practices that promote soil and tree health, nurture pollinators, and protect biodiversity.

“In keeping with his sustainable values, Peter and his family worked with the Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy, the Open Space Institute, the town of New Scotland, and the state of New York’s Farmland Protection Program to place an agricultural conservation easement on Indian Ladder Farms, protecting the farm from real-estate development in perpetuity. Peter retired from Indian Ladder Farms in 2023 at the age of 85.

“During his life, Peter was an active member of the agriculture industry, sitting on many boards and committees and receiving numerous awards for his service. The New York State Commissioner of Agriculture appointed Peter to New York State’s Apple Research and Development Advisory Board and the Advisory Board of the New York Center for Agricultural Health and Medicine as well as the New York State Apiary Industry Advisory Board.

“Peter served as director of the New York State Agricultural Society, president of the New York State Horticultural Society, a delegate to the Council of Agricultural Organizations, and a trustee of the New York State Farm Bureau Foundation.

“Peter served both as a member and as chairman of the Dean’s Advisory Council of the New York State College of Agriculture and Life Science at Cornell University. In 2001, Peter was named “Trustee emeritus” after 12 years of service as a trustee of Cornell University. In 2016, Peter was awarded a Distinguished Service Citation by the New York Agriculture Society.

“In addition, Peter sat on the Board of Directors of KeyCorp from 1979 to 2010. Locally he served as: a member of the Voorheesville Central School District’s Board of Education for 15 years; a trustee of the Albany Academy; a member of the New York State Commission on Constitutional Revision; trustee and vice chair of the Albany Institute of History and Art; and trustee of the Holland Society in New York.

“Peter was known by his family, and his many friends, employees, colleagues, and associates for his sense of humor and his skills as a storyteller and conversationalist. He was a lifelong learner and avid reader who stayed up to date on current events in this country and around the world.

“Peter was fascinated by both natural and human history. He had a personal interest in local history and genealogy and was a strong supporter of the New Netherland Institute and its research and translation of documents from the colonial Dutch period.”

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Peter Gansevoort Ten Eyck II is survived by his wife of 41 years, Rose-Marie Weber Ten Eyck; by his brother, John Ten Eyck (Sally); and by his children from his first marriage to Mary Jane Fryer, Laura Ten Eyck (Dietrich Gehring), Peter G. Ten Eyck III (Kimberly Genovesi Ten Eyck), and Elizabeth Ten Eyck Berg.

He is also survived by his grandchildren, Emily Ten Eyck Ravlich (Ivan), Morgan Ten Eyck (Sean Murphy), Taylor Ten Eyck Croke (Michael), Wolfgang Gehring (Lauren Egodigwe), Gretchen Mitchell, and Alex Mitchell, and by his great-grandchildren, Nazzier Croke and Makai Croke.

His sister, Gerritje Ten Eyck Henault, died before him, as did his sister’s husband, Armand.

“The family,” the tribute said, “would like to express their gratitude to Peter’s team of home health-care providers who cared for him and provided friendship and support to both him and Rose-Marie in the months leading up to the end of Peter’s life including: Bernadette Jasewicz; Kelly Albright; Kevin Bellanger; Laquan Berry; Grace Cossac; and Ronnya Byers, as well as Community Hospice Nurse Erin Nickel.”

The Ten Eycks welcome family, friends, and the community to join them on Wednesday, Oct. 22, at Reilly & Son Funeral Home at 9 Voorheesville Avenue in Voorheesville from 4 to 7 p.m.

His immediate family will gather privately on a separate occasion at the Albany Rural Cemetery for his interment.

Memorial messages may be left at https://altamontenterprise.com/milestones.

Memorial contributions may be made to: 

— The Community Hospice Foundation, 310 S. Manning Blvd., Albany, NY 12208 https://www.givetocommunityhospice.org/ or

— Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy, 195 New Karner Rd. Albany, NY 12205 https://www.mohawkhudson.org/.