FRAMINGHAM, Mass. — Ed Davidian, a farmer from Northborough, Massachusetts, was elected as Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) president today at the organization’s 102nd annual meeting.
“I want to start by thanking everyone who has supported me through my first two years and my re-election,” Davidian said. “We’ve made great strides in growing our Young Farmer and Rancher program, softening our image and improving member input into legislative alerts. We will continue these things, and more, throughout my next two-year term.”
Additionally, delegates during the business meeting voted on Board of Director positions that were up for election. Following this election, MFBF’s 2017-2018 Board of Directors includes:
- Ed Davidian, President
- Laura Abrams, Vice President
- Mark Amato, Treasurer
- A. Richard Bonanno, Immediate Past President
- Holly Aragi, Berkshire County Representative
- Frederick “Skip” Vadnais, Jr., Bristol County Representative
- Jeff Deck, Cape & Islands County Representative
- Peter Gibney, Essex County Representative
- Nate L’Etoile, Franklin County Representative
- Leon Ripley, Hampden County Representative
- Alan Everett, Hampshire County Representative
- Warren Shaw, Middlesex County Representative
- Rudy Medeiros, Norfolk County Representative
- Jack Angley, Plymouth County Representative
- Katie Carlson-Hardy, Worcester County Representative
- Robert Parrish, Budget Committee Representative
- Charles Proctor, Budget Committee Representative
- Wayne Smith, Budget Committee Representative
- Alex Dowse, Director At Large
- Ryan MacKay, Director At Large
- Jamie Cruz, Director At Large
- Heidi Cooper, Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee Chair
The new board was seated today, Dec. 1, and will serve until December 2018.
Finally, the delegates adopted resolutions, which become MFBF policy priorities for 2018 and beyond.
“Our delegates brought forward some thought provoking resolutions this year,” Davidian said. “For example, this year we had some resolutions focused on the recent legalization of marijuana, trying to direct our organization on policy related to that commodity.”
Other resolutions examined the Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) program, alternative energy and more. Those that were approved set MFBF’s policies priorities and guide the organization.
“Now that we have these resolutions in place, MFBF staff and leadership know what issues to tackle this year,” Davidian said. “While many are multi-year projects, I have every confidence that our staff will work tirelessly on behalf of Massachusetts farmers to create an environment where they can profit.”
Following the statewide meeting, if a resolution has national applicability, the MFBF will bring the resolution to American Farm Bureau Federation’s annual meeting in January for consideration.
Additional information about the MFBF’s annual meeting agenda, location and more is availablehere. Those who did not attend in person can view the digital conversation on MFBF’s Facebookand/or Twitter.
–Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation
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