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Chautauqua County Farm
Bureau and Long Island Farm
Bureau were both recognized
last week as recipients of
the American Farm Bureau
Federation's National
Farm-City Award for their
efforts in developing
programs for agricultural
education.
Both awards were announced
during National Farm-City
Week in November and the
groups were formally
recognized at the New York
Farm Bureau State Annual
Meeting in Niagara Falls.
"Our
Farm-City Council partners
at the state level play a
critical role in helping
non-farming consumers
understand the vital
importance of U.S.
agriculture to our economy,"
said National Farm-City
Council Chair Al Pell.
"We're pleased to honor
several state organizations
for their outstanding work
in accomplishing the
Farm-City mission."
Farm-City programs
successfully educate on the
interdependence among
agriculture--the people who
grow the food and the people
who eat it.
Chautauqua County Farm
Bureau coordinated a "June
Dairy Day" as their
submission for the National
Farm-City award. The goal
for the day was to create a
fun, interactive, learning
environment to teach dairy
nutrition as well as new and
fun ways to make dairy
products at home with the
family.
All participants learned to
make butter in a jar,
yogurt, cheese, ice cream in
a jar, ice cream in a zip
lock bag and a quick and
easy milk punch. Everyone
could also take part in
milking Eleanor, the
simulated cow, and were able
to pet a baby calf.
More than 150 Chautauqua
County residents
participated in the event.
Long Island Farm Bureau
created a Positive Image
Campaign for Agriculture in
Suffolk and Nassau Counties.
The goals of the campaign
were to: educate the general
public about the
agricultural industry;
educate the public about
farmland preservation
efforts on behalf of the
county, state, and federal
government; demonstrate that
agricultural professionals
are good stewards of the
land; promote "Grown on Long
Island" and put a face to
the grower; and highlight
various elements of support
industries such as
arborculture and
landscaping.
Long Island Farm Bureau
worked with a production
company to produce 30-second
infomercials using a
testimonial and/or script
approach. Interviews from
industry professionals and
shots of farmland,
vineyards, landscaping,
arborists and other
commodities were included in
the infomercials.
The result was an overall
increase in discussion of
agricultural issues in the
media due to the strong
presence on television.
Subsequently, Long Island
Farm Bureau was sought after
for interviews and as a
source of information for
local agriculture on an
average of 2-4 times per
week from local and regional
media (newspapers,
magazines, television) on
various topics relating to
agritourism, agricultural
business, land preservation,
and land use.
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