Tioga County’s newest FFA chapter members are pictured on the staircase at the State Capitol in Albany. Pictured, from left, are Stephanie Rhodes, president SVE FFA; Freida Witmer, reporter TST New Visions FFA; Madison Peabody, reporter Newark Valley FFA; and Susan Armstrong, president Newark Valley FFA. Provided photo.
On Monday, March 5, students and teachers representing Tioga County’s high school agriculture education programs from Newark Valley, Spencer VanEtten, and TST BOCES met with New York’s top agriculture officials at the state capitol to participate in the New York Farm Bureau’s annual Policy Execution Day and Taste New York Reception.
The trip, organized by the Tioga County Farm Bureau, gave New York’s newest FFA chapters an opportunity to learn about their state capitol and to thank policymakers for supporting agricultural education.
Upon arrival at the State Capitol, the group headed directly to the second floor where they met with Deputy Secretary of Food and Agriculture, Patrick Hooker and Commissioner of Agriculture and Markets, Richard Ball – New York’s highest ranking Agriculture Officials. Lindsay Wickham, Farm Bureau Field Representative for Tioga County, also greeted the students.
State Senator Tom O’Mara and the New York State Dairy Princess joined the discussion about the importance of agricultural education and connecting young people with the vast number of employment opportunities in agriculture. The leaders engaged students in conversation, showing them that connecting with their representatives was more captivating than intimidating.
The students also stopped by the Senate chamber, and while the legislature was not in session, the ornate gold walls, intricate carvings and huge fireplaces left a grand impression.
Assemblyman Christopher Friend speaks to Madison Peabody and Freida Witmer about the importance of sharing their experiences in the local paper. Provided photo.
The group got a brief tour of the capitol building and its flag room before walking to the Legislative Office Building Hearing Room for a forum hosted by the New York Farm Bureau. There, Commissioners of Agriculture, Labor, and Environmental Conservation took questions from farmers from around the state regarding a wide range of topics from the Farm to School Program and employment, to water scarcity, climate change and the shortage of food processors.
Following the panel discussion, students and their teachers met with Tioga County Farm Bureau members to set up their table at the Taste New York Reception where more than 90 County Farm Bureau and agricultural organization displays showcased their county products and offered samples of everything from apples and applesauce to local wools. Tioga County’s display featured cheese and sausage from Engelbert Farm in Nichols and Goat Milk Fudge and Caramel from Our Five Acre Homestead in Berkshire.
Assemblyman Christopher Friend offers a group photo with FFA members at the State Capitol in Albany. Pictured, from left, are Madison Peabody, Freida Witmer, Assemblyman Christopher Friend, Stephanie Rhodes and Susan Armstrong. Provided photo.
The event was designed to connect state legislators to farms. One of the highlights, according to Madison Peabody, Newark Valley’s chapter reporter and a freshman enrolled in her first agriculture class, was a visit with her Assemblyman.
“He was genuinely interested in our experiences and he gave us some really good advice,” said Peabody.
Susan Armstrong, Newark Valley’s chapter president and high school senior, added, “It was nice to share all the exciting things coming for agricultural education in Tioga County.”
The trip organized by the Tioga County Farm Bureau’s Promotion and Education Committee gave New York’s newest FFA chapters an opportunity to learn about their state capitol and to thank legislators for supporting agricultural education.
Last year’s budget included an agricultural education incentive grant to support agricultural education. Each of the three programs that represented Tioga County received some of the funds, which were administered by Cornell University’s Agriculture Education and Outreach Program.
The programs collectively received nearly $20,000, funds that are earmarked for purchase of new equipment for Newark Valley and Spencer VanEtten, and a County Farm Tour being planned by students in the TST New Visions FFA that will connect youth to both lawmakers and farmers, and will highlight the economic importance of Tioga County agriculture.
The Taste of New York Reception is an event planned by the New York Farm Bureau and is held each March in Albany.
Be the first to comment on "New York’s top agriculture officials welcome Tioga County’s newest FFA chapters to State Capitol"