SYRACUSE, N.Y. — At the New York Farm Viability Institute, we believe that farmers know the problems they need solved and can determine if a potential solution could be adopted on their farm. That’s why our competitive grant program relies on New York farmers to read and score the research proposals we receive. NYFVI is led by a 10-person board of directors, and each of our board members is an active member of the farming community. Allow us to introduce Mary Jeanne Packer.
The Council of Agricultural Organizations nominated Mary Jeanne to serve on the NYFVI board in 2017, and she accepted the role of treasurer and secretary in 2021.
Mary Jeanne owns the state’s only fiber processing mill and currently serves as the Secretary-Treasurer for the Empire Sheep Producers Association. Previously she served as the Executive Director of the Christmas Tree Growers Association. She is also deeply familiar with the maple industry as her husband’s family operates one of the state’s largest maple operations. Her wide-ranging expertise, coupled with a degree from MIT, offers a unique perspective to board discussions.