schedule announcement
See below for program additions and changes, which include:
- The Commissioner of the NYS Department of Agriculture & Markets will speak.
- Engaging the Community in Agriculture, a workshop moderated by Virginia Kasinki, Director, Community Based Programs, Glynwood, Inc., has been added.
- Senator Marchione will not be in attendance and sends her regrets.
Join Us for Farming Our Future!
February 22nd, 2014 — Register today!
Photo Credit Hawthorne Valley Association
Food – Farms – Community – Succession
Please join us for Farming Our Future, the third annual conference, that will bring together a diverse audience from the community including; established farmers, beginning farmers, interested non-farmers, suppliers, educators, community leaders, industry leaders and students. Register Today.
Legislators’ Roundtable
Congressman Chris Gibson and New York State Assemblymember Didi Barrett, along with State Senator Terry Gipson and Assemblymember Peter Lopez, as well as several local officials, will host a roundtable discussion at 8:00 am, providing an opportunity for dialogue. For example, learn about the recently passed Farm Bill and how it will impact local farmers.
Special Guest
Richard A. Ball, Commissioner of the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, will guest speak. Appointed last month by Governor Cuomo, Commissioner Ball owns and operates the 200-acre Schoharie Valley Farms, which features a popular onsite farm market called The Carrot Barn serving local and metropolitan NYC customers. Commissioner Ball has held leadership roles in the NYS Vegetable Growers Association, the American Farm Bureau, Schoharie County Farm Bureau, the Mohawk Valley Regional Economic Development Council, and many others. Farming Our Future congratulates Commissioner Ball on his appointment and offers him a warm welcome.
The Keynote Speaker
Stories about succession from the Hudson Valley and the Tri-State region will be highlighted in the keynote speech by Don R. Rogers. An expert who has helped farmers move their operations into the future, Rogers 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
Each workshop is given twice. The first session is at 11:15 am and the second is at 2:00 pm.
Full descriptions along with the presenters can be found by clicking WORKSHOPS.
Photo Credit Angela Cardinali
Farm to Chef Success – 11:15 am & 2:00 pm — Learn how chefs and farmers are connecting, and how its benefiting the local economy and our health.
Beekeeping 101 – 11:15 am & 2:00 pm –Find out what’s happening to the honey bees–how you can start your own hive–plus plenty of resources to help.
Strategies for Accessing Farmland – 11:15 am & 2:00 pm– Learn how to find land to farm, protect existing land, matching land with farmers and more…
Bridging the Gap -- 11:15 am & 2:00 pm-- Learn vital aspects of transitioning your farm successfully.
Engaging the Community in Agriculture -- 11:15 am & 2:00 pm– 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.
Photo Credit Hawthorne Valley Association
Our Next Generation– 11:15 am & 2:00 pm– Engaging Youth is critical to ensuring our next generation is prepared to continue farming.
Children’s Programming-- Kids will learn 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.
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.
We hope you will join us Saturday, February 22nd 2014 at Taconic Hills Central School District for a thoughtful discussion of where our food will come from in the future. Mark your calendars!
The Agenda
Saturday, February 22, 2014
| 7:30 AM | Doors Open |
| 8:00 AM | Legislators’ Roundtable in the library |
| 9:00 AM | Welcomes |
| Assemblymember Didi Barrett | |
| Congressman Chris Gibson | |
| 9:45 AM | Keynote Address |
| Don R. Rogers | |
| 10:35 AM | Break and Exhibitors |
| 11:15 AM | Workshops and Panels |
| 12:30 PM | Lunch |
| Networking and Exhibitors | |
| 2:00 PM | Workshops and Panels |
| 3:15 PM | Cheese Tasting |
| Networking and Exhibitors | |
| 4:00 PM | Program closes |
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
All payments should be made out to:
Cornell University Cooperative Extension
479 Rte. 66, Hudson, NY 12534
ATT: Farming Our Future 2/22/2014
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).
