GREENE – If agriculture fails, our communities fail.
That’s what Assemblyman Pete Lopez (R-Schoharie) told members of the Chenango County Farm Bureau and their guests at the organization’s 52nd Annual Meeting Wednesday at The Silo restaurant in Greene.
Lopez, who represents the southeast corner of the county in the 127th District, says farming is the key to this region, and he praised Chenango’s farmers for their ongoing enthusiasm.
“Agriculture is the key to the region and the livelihood of the people here,” Lopez said. “If agriculture fails, our communities fail. And there’s an enthusiasm to keep it going in Chenango County that I don’t see everywhere else. That energy gets people in Albany to listen.”
The bureau voted on officers and agriculture policy for the county and state’s 2008 political platform, as well as recognized those who’ve made a positive impact within the industry locally.
K. “Giff” Foster received the “Advocate for Agriculture Award and a proclamation from Lopez and Assemblyman Cliff Crouch for his efforts in promoting farming as both a food and energy source.
“In an effort to reduce our dependency on Foreign Oil, Giff has worked diligently, meeting with legislators, farmers and the public in general in support of renewable and alternative energy,” said Farm Bureau President Bradd Vickers. “He heats his home, runs his tractors and his truck on 100 percent biodiesel and has helped others to setup their own production units. Through his diligence, he has been able to reduce his farm costs by approximately 60 percent. He shares this knowledge willingly in hopes that others will do the same.”
Vickers also spoke at length about the bureau’s most recent programs and achievements, that ranged from sponsoring tax education classes from the IRS to holding Natural Gas well-leasing seminars explaining the pro’s and con’s for rural property owners.
