Pictured are Madison County Farm Bureau President, Nate Durfee (right) and Vice President, Greg Coon.
(Nov. 2013) The Madison County Farm Bureau recently held their annual business meeting on Oct. 24 at the Rusty Rail in Canandaigua. The purpose of the annual meeting was to adopt legislative policy resolutions, listen to county committee activity reports and to elect members of the County’s board of directors for the 2013 – 2014 year.
The evening included live entertainment during the social hour by The Old Clay Stone, a local band which includes Madison County Farm Bureau Members Dave and Suzi Taylor and which performs a mixture of country, folk and Adirondack tunes.
Immediately following dinner was Guest Speaker for the evening Greg Rhoads, Head Chef at the Side Hill Farmers Meat & Market in Manlius. Greg discussed the growth in the local foods movement and the role his store plays in it. The Side Hill Farmers Meat & Market is able to offer local, in-season produce, meats and farm products on a year-round basis. Being able to provide customers with the freshest possible products which are locally grown while keeping local dollars in the local economy and directly supporting agricultural growers who are our neighbors is what his store is all about.
Madison County Farm Bureau elections were also held. Nate Durfee, who helps run a family dairy operation was re- elected President and Greg Coon, who is also involved in a family dairy operation/crop production business, was re-elected Vice President.
Resolutions were also voted on and were forwarded onto the State level for consideration. In addition to State and National Policies, two local Policy resolutions were also discussed and voted on asking that the Madison County Soil & Water Conservation District and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Madison County be funded at their requested level. These policies are especially timely in that both organizations are due to have a funding reduction by the County this upcoming year.
New York Farm Bureau is the statewide lobbying/trade organization that represents thousands of farm families. Its members and the public know the organization as “The Voice of New York Agriculture.” New York Farm Bureau is dedicated to solving the economic and public policy issues challenging the agricultural community.