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Hundreds of farmers gathered at the Hudson Valley Resort in Kerhonkson, NY for New York Farm Bureau's Annual State Meeting December 9-11. For three days, county delegates debated state and national issues and participated in workshops with guest speakers, including State Agriculture and Markets Commissioner Nathan Rudgers. Senator Hoffmann, Chairwoman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, was honored as the Most Outstanding Agricultural Advocate for 2003. "We are proud to present the 2003 Most Outstanding Agriculture Award to Senator Nancy Larraine Hoffmann for the 100% voting record and exemplary leadership on behalf of New York's farm families. As an organization, and as individual farmers, we are grateful to have someone representing us in the New York Senate who is so knowledgeable and understanding of the needs of agriculture as Senator Hoffmann," said NY Farm Bureau President John Lincoln. Senator Hoffmann thanked the delegates for the award and encouraged them to continue their efforts, "The challenges that I face are similar to what you face, in that we have to constantly look for ways to build new alliances. In order to achieve anything substantive on national commodity issues and national environmental issues, I have to be in close contact with our congressional delegation and, increasingly, with my colleagues across the country. You must develop close, personal relationships with the members of the New York Legislature, especially those members from urban areas." |
Martha Goodsell of New York Farms, a campaign to promote farming and protect farmland in New York State, talked with Senator Hoffmann about her efforts after the awards ceremony. NY Farms can be reached: 125 Williams Road, Candor, NY 13743 Phone 607-659-3710 Fax 607-659-4635 E-Mail nyfarms@baldcom.net NY Farms is an effort to increase networking among members in the farm and food industry. |
Senator Hoffmann and Mark James, Executive Director of the Finger Lakes Office of the Farm Bureau representing Ontario, Seneca, Wayne, and Yates Counties. |
(l-r) Nathan Rudgers, NYS Commissioner of Agriculture and Markets; Patti Dugan, NYFB Deputy Director of Organization; and Senator Hoffmann talked before the Farm Bureau's banquet. |
Members of the Wayne County Farm Bureau invited Senator Hoffmann to be the featured speaker at their annual meeting, October 23, 2004. They wanted to make sure they put their request in early enough. |