Hudson Valley Farmers Forum
Monday, August 20th, 4-6pm
Columbia-Greene Community College, Student Dining Hall, Main Bldg. South Entrance. Parking lots E,F,G
This will be a rare opportunity to hear from politicians and local experts about federal and state ag policies.  Come ask the questions that have been on your mind, let your elected officials know what's important to you, and interact and hear from other farmers.  The Farmers Forum is our chance as an agricultural community to tell our elected officials how they can support new farmers in the Hudson Valley.  Bring your questions and concerns! We deserve farm policy that supports, not hinders, our ability to make a life farming in the Valley. RSVP HERE!
Event Partners (in no particular order...)
Hudson Valley Young Farmers Coalition
National Young Farmers Coalition
Hawthorne Valley Farm
Scenic Hudson
The Greenhorns
Office of United States Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
Office of Congressman Chris Gibson
Columbia Land Conservancy
Glynwood
Hudson Valley AgriBusiness Dev Corp
Food and Water Watch
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Columbia County
Farm-to-Table Co-packers
Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture
Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Working Group
New Farmer Development Program
Farm Bureau- Dutchess, Westchester, Putnam
American Farmland Trust
Draft agenda:

4:00 pm
Welcome by Hudson Valley Young Farmers' Coalition
4:10 - 6:00 pm
Panel and public comments/questions about agriculture in the Hudson River Valley
Panelists will include:
Rep. Chris Gibson
Assemblymember Didi Barrett
Senator Steven Saland (invited, waiting on confirmation)
Kathryn Tanner, Agriculture Advisor to Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
Other officials, TBD.
Each panelist will be given 5 minutes to update the room on agriculture policy in their realm of government, and then the entire panel will take questions (only pertaining to agriculture) from the audience.
RSVP!
If you and your staff are planning to attend, RSVP ... www.youngfarmers.org/farmersforum