The Dutchess County Executive’s Award for Overall Distinction recognizes businesses and organizations that have continued to grow, innovate, or make other significant investments that make our county a destination that attracts millions of visitors from all over the world. Join Destination Dutchess in celebrating all the honorees at the 12th annual Destination Dutchess Awards of Distinction on Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025, at The Henry A. Wallace Center at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Home in Hyde Park. Read more about the event and purchase tickets here.
Read on to learn more about each Overall Excellence Award of Distinction finalist:
• Jeffrey Sasson, Executive Director, Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum, Poughkeepsie
• Morgan Battenfeld, Part Owner/Manager, F.W. Battenfeld and Son, Red Hook
• John Stefanopoulos, Owner, Four Brothers Drive-In Theater, Amenia
• Morgan Battenfeld, F.W. Battenfeld and Son: Battenfeld’s farm, established in 1906, is now a fifth-generation family-owned business in Dutchess County. The farm specializes in growing hybrid anemones and Christmas trees, making it the leading grower of anemones in the northeast region. In addition to anemones, the farm also grows other flowers in greenhouses, such as ranunculus and violets. While the flowers are primarily sold wholesale, there is a retail shop on the farm where the flowers can be purchased. Anemones, being a winter crop, make a cold winter day a fun time to visit and enjoy the beautiful flowers and spring-like feeling in the greenhouses. The Christmas tree portion of the choose-and-cut farm brings joy to many families locally and from locations such as New Jersey, Connecticut, and other parts of New York State. The farm has approximately 100 acres of trees to choose from, consisting of seven different varieties. During the holiday season, wreaths, garlands, and ornaments are available for sale. On weekends, Santa visits from the North Pole, and horse-drawn wagon rides are available. Many families tailgate, but there is also food and hot chocolate available on the farm to enjoy by the warm fire pit. Since 1957, the farm has been part of family holiday traditions, creating fond memories for families as they choose and cut their Christmas trees.
• Jeffrey Sasson, Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum: The Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum is the only dedicated children’s museum in the Mid-Hudson region and a must-visit destination for families. Situated along the scenic Poughkeepsie waterfront, just steps from the Walkway Over the Hudson, the museum welcomes nearly 80,000 visitors each year. Inside, families discover interactive exhibits and programs designed for children from toddlers through age 12, offering opportunities for exploration in science, technology, engineering, art, and math. The museum’s location encourages families to extend their stay in Dutchess County, pairing a day of play and learning with the surrounding parks, trails, and restaurants that make the region so inviting. MHDM is also deeply committed to community impact, advancing education equity while strengthening the local economy. The museum’s work is guided by three focus areas: school readiness, health and wellness, and community building. Through national access initiatives such as Museums for All and Blue Star Museums, as well as through events like the museum's monthly Free Family Nights, MHDM ensures that every child has the chance to benefit from hands-on learning experiences regardless of family income or background. The museum is also proudly certified as disability-friendly through Wheel the World, ensuring that children and families of all abilities feel welcome and included. At the same time, MHDM generates more than two million dollars in direct annual economic impact, including nearly two hundred thousand dollars in local tax revenue. By creating joyful, welcoming, and accessible experiences, MHDM enriches children and families while supporting Dutchess County as a vibrant, family-friendly destination.
• John Stefanopoulos, Four Brothers Drive-In Theater: Our approach to hospitality and experience has always been to do the unbelievable and create the most memorable by providing feelings and excitement to our guests. We care so much about doing special events, providing world class technology to emphasize our commitment to providing the very best and connecting our guests with the best of what a theater can mean to the people and the community. We are always focused on being dynamic. We specialize in unique amenities and services, offering car hop service, overnight accommodations and camping, a fire pit, two types of food venues, live entertainment, electric car charging stations, mini golf, an event tent, fire pit, and incredible food!
• Morgan Battenfeld, F.W. Battenfeld and Son: Looking to the future, the farm hopes to continue growing its business and meeting the increasing demand for both flowers and Christmas trees. With the rise in tourism in Dutchess County, it is crucial to keep up with the influx of new visitors. The farm also aims to continue creating lasting memories for visitors, ensuring that each visit is a unique and memorable experience.
• Jeffrey Sasson, Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum: At the Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum, we hope to continue expanding our role as a place where every child and every family can discover, learn, and thrive. Building on our focus areas of school readiness, health and wellness, and community building, we are positioning the museum as a leader in environmental education. A centerpiece of this vision is the construction of our new Science Park, an outdoor environmental science–themed learning space with a one-of-a-kind destination play structure that will further anchor the museum as a must-see attraction in the county. Alongside this, we are committed to growing our free summer art series, which already draws families from surrounding counties and regions and creates a powerful reason for visitors to make Dutchess County part of their summer traditions. By pairing science and art with joyful, hands-on experiences, we are preparing the next generation to care for their world while making the Hudson Valley an even more vibrant destination for families. We also see our growth as part of the larger story of tourism in Dutchess County. Growing arts, cultural, and museum promotion can bring more people to the county. One thing we wish could happen is the development of an Arts & Culture Trail, modeled on regional wine or craft-beer trails, that links museums, galleries, public art, performance spaces, and cultural sites across the county. Such a trail would help visitors build enriching itineraries, stay longer, and explore more of what Dutchess has to offer. We hope the county can invest more in clear signage and wayfinding that guides people between attractions, improve transportation or shuttle connections, and support cross-promotion among towns and cultural venues. We would like to see more funding and collaboration for free public programming like our summer art series, so that arts and culture are seen not as occasional draw but integral to why people choose Dutchess County as a destination.
• John Stefanopoulos, Four Brothers Drive-In Theater: Being able to bring world class events, a film festival type of screening and providing more of a venue type theater programming to provide really great events that are unique.
• Morgan Battenfeld, F.W. Battenfeld and Son: Battenfeld’s is truly a place to create everlasting family memories.
• Jeffrey Sasson, Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum: When planning a visit to the Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum, one of the best things to know is that the experience goes far beyond our interactive exhibits. Families often find that arriving early gives them time to explore at a relaxed pace before the galleries get busy, and both floors of the museum are fully accessible for strollers and wheelchairs. We also provide equipment for visitors with disabilities upon request, ensuring that everyone can fully enjoy their visit. A helpful insider tip is to check our website before your trip for a list of ongoing programs and special events—planning around these can make your day extra special. After exploring inside, families often enjoy a break at our outdoor seating area, perfect for a picnic or snack with beautiful views of the Hudson River. The museum also shines during the summer months when our free art series brings in families from across the region. Pairing a museum visit with one of these community events is a wonderful way to experience the creativity and vibrancy of Dutchess County. Whether you come for the exhibits, the programs, or the setting, the Mid-Hudson Discovery Museum offers families not only a place to play and learn but also a reason to linger, explore, and make lasting memories along the Hudson River.
• John Stefanopoulos, Four Brothers Drive-In Theater: You have to order a world class Lobster Roll, our Nutella shake that we invented, and get car hop service. You have to come early to park and get a great spot, enjoy live music, and really do overnight camping!
