NEW ORLEANS — New York Farm Bureau had much to celebrate as the American Farm Bureau Federation Annual Convention came to a close Tuesday, January 15 in New Orleans, LA. The national organization was marking its 100th anniversary during the four-day meeting that brought together around 7,000 members from across the country, including nearly 30 from New York.
New York Farm Bureau was recognized during the opening session with three AFBF State Awards of Excellence for outstanding programming in Advocacy, Engagement and Membership Value. In addition, AFBF honored NYFB with its New Horizon Award which recognizes innovative new programming. NYFB received the award for its legal advocacy defending the state’s farmers in a legal challenge to New York State Labor Law.
Also, at the Annual Meeting, the AFBF Young Farmers and Ranchers (YF&R) Committee elected New York’s Paul Molesky of Rensselaer County Farm Bureau to be its next national YF&R chair. The national Promotion and Education Committee elected Patti Fisher of St. Lawrence County Farm Bureau in New York to be their national chair as well. Both Molesky and Fisher will assume their new roles in March.
NYFB also had success in YF&R competitive events. Nathan and Cristy Williams of Dutch Hill Maple, members of Onondaga County Farm Bureau, were a top 10 finalist in the Achievement Award competition. This award recognizes young farmers and ranchers who have excelled in their operations and exhibited superior leadership abilities. Also, Kristen Brown, NYFB YF&R Chair from Orange County Farm Bureau competed in the Discussion Meet. Adam Miner of Jefferson County Farm Bureau was the NYFB representative in the Excellence in Agriculture competition.
NYFB delegates participated in the closing Business Session, which is the culmination of the organization’s grassroots public policy process that originates with members at the county Farm Bureau level. NYFB was successful in passing several resolutions that the state organization proposed, including the following:
- We support encouraging the administration to limit trade disruptions and resolve trade disputes through negotiations, not tariffs or withdrawals from other trade agreement discussions.
- We support allowing advance payments to all producers who participate in conservation programs with NRCS.
- We support the development of clear rules of compliance by the Department of Justice for the Americans with Disabilities ACT Title III. Furthermore, a grace period for implementation is necessary once these rules have been established.
- We support that FDA exempt any single ingredient product including but not limiting to pure honey, pure sorghum, pure cane syrup and pure maple syrup from the added sugar requirement on the nutrition label.
“The American Farm Bureau Federation Annual Convention celebrated 100 years as an organization that got its start in Broome County, New York. For a century, Farm Bureau has effectively been the unified voice of agriculture, and New York Farm Bureau looks forward to carrying that tradition into the next 100 years. Our members had a successful convention that recognized New York Farm Bureau for all of its hard work and accomplishments, and we could not be prouder of what we do at the state and national levels to represent our diverse agricultural community,” said David Fisher, New York Farm Bureau President.
–New York Farm Bureau
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