N.Y. Farm Bureau re-elects leadership
Dairy farmers Fisher, Ooms chosen for top spots
Delegates at the New York Farm Bureau’s 62nd annual meeting unanimously re-elected David Fisher, a dairy farmer from Madrid, St. Lawrence County, to his second two-year term as president of the state’s farming organization.
The two-day meeting, held this year in Syracuse, sets the Bureau’s public policy agenda each year.
“It is an honor to represent such a large, diverse group of farmers. I am grateful they have once again put their faith in me,” Fisher said in a statement.
Eric Ooms, a dairy farmer from Old Chatham, was re-elected as vice president.
The Farm Bureau’s highest honor, the Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award, was given to three people who “made a positive impact on New York Farm Bureau and agriculture in this state,” according to New York Farm Bureau spokesman Steve Ammerman.
Awardees included Bob Smith, of Clifton Park, who has worked for the Farm Bureau and New York state government advocating “for strong agriculture policies that have improved the business climate for farmers.”
Other award winners included Phyllis Couture of West Valley, Cattaraugus County. She is currently the Promotion and Education Committee Chair on the state Farm Bureau’s board of directors.
Also awarded was Lyle Wells, a Long Island farmer who died in January of this year. He helped to establish the “Grown on Long Island” marketing campaign and has worked to preserve Long Island farmland amid growing urban development pressure.
Also honored were four farm bureau members who won the James Quinn award, which recognizes efforts to “serve and strengthen agriculture,” according to the statement.
Winners of the award included Bret and Johanna Bossard, owners of Barbland Dairy in Madison County. Amanda Barber, of the Cortland County Farm Bureau, was named the new agriculture education program at Marathon High School, and also won the award.
Todd Giroux, of Clinton County, won the award after he began sharing the stories of tough economic conditions facing dairy farmers in the state.
The organization’s public policy priorities, which were crafted during the meeting, will be announced in January, according to Ammerman.