LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring the New York Farm Bureau upon the auspi-
cious occasion of its 100th Anniversary and saluting the outstanding
service of its members and staff on behalf of the agricultural community
and the people of the State of New York

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize that the
quality of life in the communities across this great State of New York
is enriched by the many New York farm families whose hard work and inge-
nuity maintain and improve the food and fiber supply for countless citi-
zens; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor the
New York Farm Bureau upon the auspicious occasion of its 100th Anniver-
sary and applaud the outstanding service of its members and staff on
behalf of the agricultural community and the people of the State of New
York; and
WHEREAS, The New York Farm Bureau was established to serve and
strengthen agriculture, supply needed member services to family farms
and maximize farmers' ability to engage in national, State and local
policy debates that affect New York agriculture; and
WHEREAS, In 2010, the New York Farm Bureau was comprised of approxi-
mately 30,000 members from all 62 counties of New York, making it the
largest State Farm Bureau in the Northeast; and
WHEREAS, The New York Farm Bureau was founded on March 20, 1911 in
Binghamton, New York, with the first Farm Bureau agent hailing from
Broome County, making it the first state in the Nation to have a state
organization of this kind; and
WHEREAS, The New York Farm Bureau created a Women's Program and Young
Farmer Program in the late 1950s to encourage leadership development
among its members; and
WHEREAS, The New York Farm Bureau continues to be a steadfast advocate
for the Ag-In-The-Classroom initiative to introduce children to New York
agriculture and to improve the quality of teachers in New York schools;
and
WHEREAS, The New York Farm Bureau's visionary Board of Directors
developed numerous initiatives that enable farmers to effectively
produce and sell their products, provide nutritious and affordable
locally grown foods to consumers, serve as a vital contributor to our
State's economy and serve as environmental stewards which protect and
enhance our State's natural resources; and
WHEREAS, The New York Farm Bureau is a true grassroots organization
dedicated to ensuring that agriculture remains New York's number one
industry through the organization's unique policy development process
and active legislative and regulatory advocacy programs; now, therefore,
be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor the New York Farm Bureau on the auspicious occasion of its 100th
Anniversary and to applaud the outstanding service of its members and
staff on behalf of the agricultural community and the people of the
State of New York; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the New York Farm Bureau.