Revitalizing Our Communities Through Food and Agriculture

Sally Baker, Co-Founder, Executive Director Philmont Beautification, Inc.

 Sally Baker is the co-founder of Philmont Beautification, Inc., a grass-roots 501 c 3 nonprofit organization founded in 2000 by five professional women dedicated to revitalization programs and economic development in the
hamlet of Philmont in Columbia County. Conceived as grass-roots organization where residents collaborate for specific revitalization projects in the tradition of a barn-raising, the organization was recently cited by the NYS
Homes and Community Renewal funding agency for creating a model NY Main St. program including assisting three farm-to-table restaurants to open in the Village of Philmont since 2006, managing the Philmont Farmers’ Market, and spearheading the initiative of creating a food grocery store as a community owned cooperative. She is a Visual Arts Fellowship alumni of Syracuse University of Visual and Performing Arts.

Youth Workshop – Building Tomorrow’s Leaders

Kim Carlo – Taconic Hills CSD HARVEST Club Advisory

While I grew up in Queens, my family has had a house in Copake my whole life. I always knew that when it was time to have a family that it would be in Columbia County. I interviewed for a school counselor position at Taconic Hills in 2003 that I happily accepted. Working with kids and living in the area  has helped me to see how important agriculture is in our lives and the community. This is my first year as the high school HARVEST Club advisor. I am a board member of Dollars for Scholars of Taconic Hills and a new 4H leader. I live in Copake with my husband, 2 children, 2 dogs, a cat, and 2 horses that we keep at Sky Farm. This picture is of me and my horse Gunner.

Farmland Accessibility Challenges and Opportunities

Marissa Codey – Conservation and Agricultural Program Manager
Columbia Land Conservancy

Marissa Codey is the coordinator of the Columbia Land Conservancy’s agricultural programs in Columbia County.  She has been with the Conservancy since 2003, and in that time has overseen a variety of land acquisition and conservation programs including acquisition for public conservation areas and purchased as well as donated conservation easements.  In 2009 she helped the Conservancy begin its Farmer Landowner Match Program.  Prior to her work with the Conservancy, she was the Executive Director of the Central Indiana Land Trust in Indianapolis, and received a Master of Science in Environmental Science and Master of Public Affairs from Indiana University.

The Right Fit:  Matching Food and Farm to Market

Amy Cotler brings 3 decades as a culinary professional (AKA food fanatic) and farm to table advocate to her books and other offerings.  A  longtime advocate of seasonal cooking and local eating, she is the founding director of Berkshire Grown, which became an early model for local farm and food advocacy. She consults, teaches and lectures nationally on food and farm to table issues.  Ms. Cotler worked as the web food forum host for The New York Times and her food articles have been published in periodicals, including Fine Cooking, Kitchen Garden, Cook’s and Orion.  She has written 5 cookbooks, including Fresh from the Farm: The Massachusetts Farm to School Cookbook, a training tool for schools, which was distributed to every school Massachusetts and is now available free on-line.  Her new book, published in November 2009, brings together her culinary and local food advocacy experience. The Locavore Way, Discover and Enjoy the Pleasures of Locally Grown Foods is a people’s solution to The Omnivore’s Dilemma, a hands-on guide to seeking out and savoring local foods.  A veteran chef and cooking teacher, Ms. Cotler has taught home cooks and professionals at Institute for Culinary Education and Culinary Institute of America, where she also researched and wrote text for their professional cookbook. She has developed close to 1000 recipes, including many for the Joy of Cooking. Her media appearances include The Television Food Network and National Public Radio.

Sharing Resources – The Cooperative Way

Bruce Davenport – Fourth generation farmer at Davenport Farms.  President Rondout Valley Growers Association, a non-profit community organization comprised of local farmers, residents, and businesses that are committed to strengthening the region’s family farms and preserving open space for future generations.

Lender’s Panel:  Learning About Accessing Credit
Peter Elmer – Farm Service Agency

USDA Farm Service Agency Loan Officer located in Greenwich
NY.  Peter works with farmers in the Columbia, Greene and Washington
Counties with additional case files as assigned.  His formal education was
a BS from Cornell University in Agricultural Economics.

Peter has 11 yrs in agricultural finance experience working with
Farm Credit and FSA.  Previously he worked 18yrs for an agricultural
supply company in western NY.

Farmland Protection Plan – Where Are We Now? 

Todd Erling – Executive Director, Hudson Valley AgriBusiness

With an academic background in environmental design and planning from Miami University and the Pratt Institute, years of experience in community and economic development, and growing up in the family orchards Todd brings a holistic approach to agri-business development.  Todd lives on his wife’s family farm in Southern Columbia County and has hands-on knowledge of the challenges to the Valley’s agriculture while applying practical Economic Development programs and projects to protect and preserve open space by keeping farmers in business.  Todd has completed numerous agri-business projects with beneficial impact for local farmers throughout the region.

Todd is currently a member of Senator Gillibrand’s Agricultural Working Group, Congressman Gibson’s Agricultural Advisory Board, the New York Agribusiness Development Corporation, the Hudson Mohawk Resource Conservation and Development Council Board of Directors, the Columbia County Water District Board of Commissioners, Columbia County Farm Bureau, the Hudson Valley Agriculture Partnership Steering Committee, Hudson River Watershed Alliance Steering Committee, the Columbia County Bounty Steering Committee, and is the Livingston Town Coordinator for the Southern Columbia County Keep Farming Project.

Revitalizing our Communities Through Food and Agriculture
Fiona Lally

Fiona Lally is the president of the Lebanon Valley Business Association, based in New Lebanon, NY.  New Lebanon lost its only supermarket three years ago and was declared a food desert.  After that, the LVBA decided that the way to build business in the area was to build the entire community, and so it embarked on a series of projects that encourage clean, local food, revitalize downtown, and build on the historic strengths of the town.  The effect has been galvanizing.

In addition to her work at LVBA, Fiona runs Rasenna Consulting, Inc., a business that provides travel medical insurance and risk management  for organizations that send people abroad for education, development and volunteering.  She and her husband live in an old grist mill in New Lebanon with their four children.  Fiona carries various accreditations in insurance as well as a degree in classical archaeology from Brown University.

Youth Leadership Workshop – Building Tomorrow’s Leaders
Vanessa Merril – Taconic Hills CSD Agriculture Teacher

Vanessa Merrill grew up in Delaware County, NY. Her family has a small “hobby” farm where they raise register Milking Shorthorn cattle. Both Vanessa and her family have had success at local and national shows with several of their cattle being named Junior All-Americans and nominated All-Americans. Throughout high school was very involved with 4-H, athletics and academics. She was honored both locally, regional and nationally for her outstanding achievements in all of these areas. After high school in 2006 Vanessa decided to pursue her love of cattle and attend Cornell University where she majored in Animal Science and was involved with the Dairy Fellows Program. After receiving her Bachelor’s degree in 2010 from Cornell, Vanessa enrolled in the CTE graduate program at Cornell University in the Education Department. She received her Master’s Degree in Agriculture Education in May of 2011. Upon graduation Vanessa received her current job at Taconic Hills Central School where she is developing and implementing the new agriculture program.

Revitalizing our Communities Through Food and Agriculture
Panel facilitated by Karyn Novakowski

Panel Discussion -
Ian Perry – Taconic Hills 9th Grade Student and President of HARVEST Club

Ian Perry, 14, is a 9th grader at Taconic Hills CSD, and currently serves as President of the Taconic Hills Harvest Club.  Working in the family garden and helping to raise chickens gave Ian his start in agriculture.  For his 7th grade science fair project, Ian made a TLUD oven, which converts chicken droppings into fertilizer without releasing CO2 into the atmosphere.  He is member of the high school band, and plays JV football and track.  He is on the advanced math and science path, and would like to be an environmental scientist.

Lender’s Panel:  Learning About Accessing Credit

Benneth Phelps

Benneth Phelps is Program Coordinator at The Carrot Project, a non-profit providing operating loans to small and medium sized farmers and processors in Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, Litchfield County, CT, Dutchess County, NY and Columbia County, NY.  Benneth is also a fruit and vegetable farmer. For more information: www.thecarrotproject.org

Panel Discussion -
Ellen Poggi – Hand Hollow Farm is now entering its third growing season. It is located on beautiful terrain of fields and woods in New Lebanon, NY.  While the farm is not certified organic, all crops are grown organically, without the use of synthetic fertilizers and chemical sprays and with the goal of sustainability in mind. This year the farm will expand to almost 2 acres to serve the growing CSA. The farm grows over 40 kinds of vegetables as well as culinary herbs and flowers. It is also home to free range laying hens and a multitude of wildlife.

Lender’s Panel:  Learning About Accessing Credit
Emili Ponte – Farm Credit East

Revitalizing our Communities Through Food and Agriculture
Roberta Roll founded and manages the Farmers Market in Copake, NY.

As an integrative healthcare practitioner, Roberta is dedicated to helping people create health and wellness through bodywork, movement awareness and yoga.  She also served on the committee that created the new comprehensive plan for Copake.  In 2010, she decided to bring community, land use and wellness together, by establishing a farmers market in the town, as a way to bring fresh, healthy food to the people, build community, revitalize the town, and support local farming

Steffen A. Schneider

Steffen Schneider joined Hawthorne Valley Association in 1989. He was hired as the herd manager of the farm’s dairy herd and in 1994 became farm manager. He has served on the Farm management group and the General Management Group since then. He took on the role of General Manager of the farm branch in 2008.
He was a key member of the team that brought the farm back from near insolvency (caused by a failed wholesale distribution venture) to its present state.
He is “adjunct faculty” at the Pfeiffer Center in Spring Valley, NY where he teaches livestock management and other biodynamic courses.
Keynote at the 1999 and 2006 National Biodynamic Conferences
Presented at several NOFA- and the 2008 Acres Conference

Education. Steffen graduated from the Justus Von Liebig University in Giessen, Germany with a Master’s Degree in Agriculture and Animal Science in 1982.

Publications. Master’s thesis on the domestication of animals. Several articles in biodynamic and other trade journals.

Organizational Membership. Treasurer of the Board of Directors of the Biodynamic Farming and Gardening Association of America, Member of Slow Food USA

Previous Work. Before joining Hawthorne Valley Association, Steffen was part of the team that pioneered a biodynamic farm start-up in East Troy, Wisconsin. Out of that initiative grew Nokomis Farms and the Michael Fields Agricultural Institute.

 Moderator – Ben Shute

Ben Shute is owner and manager of Hearty Roots Community Farm, a CSA that grows vegetables for members in the Hudson Valley and New York City. Hearty Roots began in 2004 on rented land in Red Hook and continues to operate there, and has also recently purchased land in Clermont as the farm’s permanent home. Ben and his wife Lindsey serve on the board of the National Young Farmers’ Coalition. They are enjoying a sleepless winter with their first child, Piper, who was born in January.