Join us for
FARMING OUR FUTURE, 2016!
That’s right—2016. After three very gratifying years of producing inspiring, informational conferences with speakers and workshops that you found fascinating and enlightening—which were attended by diverse audiences from near and far and wide—Farming Our Future is taking a one-year sabbatical while we plan a topnotch conference for 2016.
But you can RELIVE (or discover) the 2014 conference via video links below. Hear from the diverse voices that are the face of farming and its future across the county and the region. The topics are current. You’ll be glad you watched.
Thanks to our past attendees, exhibitors, sponsors, and of course our speakers for your tremendous support! Thanks to Dan and Mary Udell for these fine videos.
2014 Conference Highlights
View Legislators’ Round-table Video
Commissioner of the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets along with Congressman Chris Gibson, New York State Assemblymember Didi Barrett, along with State Senator Terry Gipson and Assemblymember Peter Lopez, as well as several other local officials,hosted a round table discussion providing a great opportunity for dialogue.
The Keynote Speaker
View Keynote Speaker Video
Stories about succession from the Hudson Valley and the Tri-State region were highlighted in the keynote speech by Don R. Rogers. Don, an expert who has helped farmers move their operations into the future, began his career with Cornell Cooperative Extension before joining Farm Credit East, the number-one financial-services cooperative for the Northeast agricultural industry. He’s worked with more than 2,000 farm operators and owners on everything from family farms, to labor management, to funding.
Panels and Workshops
Farm to Chef Success – Learn how chefs and farmers are connecting, and how its benefiting the local economy and our health.
View Farm to Chef Success Video
Beekeeping 101 – Find out what’s happening to the honey bees–how you can start your own hive–plus plenty of resources to help.
View Beekeeping Video
Strategies for Accessing Farmland – Learn how to find land to farm, protect existing land, matching land with farmers and more…
View Strategies for Accessing Farmland Video
Bridging the Gap -- Learn vital aspects of transitioning your farm successfully.
View Bridging the Gap Video
Engaging the Community in Agriculture – As a member of our community you play an important role in the future success of our local farms. Learn from leaders in this field how to take part in the conversation.
View Engaging the Community Video
Our Next Generation– Engaging Youth is critical to ensuring our next generation is prepared to continue farming.
View Our Next Generation Video
Children’s Programming– Kids learned about beekeeping, how to make honey granola treats, craft activities, bee stories and more, thanks to Farm On! Foundation for their support of the children’s program.
HARVEST Workshop — View presentations on past and future projects of the HARVEST club.
View HARVEST Video
Our Sponsors
Ginsberg’s Foods is the conference Platinum Sponsor. Gold Sponsors include: Berkshire Farm & Table, Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, Columbia – Greene Media, Farm Credit East, Farm On! Foundation, and Valley Oil.
The Event Committee
Event Co-Chairs:
Karen DiPeri – Event Producer, DiPeri & Co.
Stephen E. Hadcock – Beginning Farmer and Market Development Educator Capital Area Agricultural and Horticultural Program, Cornell University Cooperative Extension
Steering Committee:
Marissa Codey – Conservation and Agricultural Programs Manager, Columbia Land Conservancy
Todd M. Erling – Executive Director, Hudson Valley AgriBusiness Development Corporation
Sandra Gardner – Director of Instruction and Staff Development, Taconic Hills Central School District
Christie Hegarty – Agriculture Teacher Taconic Hills High School
Tracy Lerman- Sustainable Food Systems Consultant
Virginia Martin – Farm to School Consultant
Emili Ponte - Farm Credit East, ACA
Karen Preuss – Director of Marketing and Communications, Hawthorne Valley Association
Contact: Web: www.farmingourfuture.org │ 518-329-0890 │ farmingourfuture@gmail.com
Beneficiaries:
Proceeds from the conference will go toward Taconic Hills’s HARVEST Club (Healthy Agricultural Resources by Volunteers & Educators in Science & Technology), a program that engages youth in the process of growing healthy fruits, flowers, and vegetables in a school-based garden, Friends of Shakespeare, Operation Wallacea Scientific/Environmental Research Expedition and the school’s Parent Teacher Organization (PTO).
