Senate Resolution No. 661

BY: Senator METZGER

COMMENDING Thunder View Farms upon the occasion of
its designation as recipient of the 2018
Environmental Stewardship Award Program by the
National Cattlemen's Beef Association

WHEREAS, The agricultural industry is part of the foundation upon
which our distinct American heritage is built; and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize those
individuals and businesses within the great State of New York that are
dedicated to the vital work of environmental protection; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commend Thunder View Farms upon the occasion of its designation as
recipient of the 2018 Environmental Stewardship Award Program by the
National Cattlemen's Beef Association, celebrated at the 2019 Cattle
Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show in New Orleans; and

WHEREAS, The Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP) was
established in 1991, to recognize outstanding land stewards in the
cattle industry; Thunder View Farms received this auspicious award for
leading by example and serving as inspiration for producers everywhere;
and

WHEREAS, Thunder View Farms originated in 1958, when Phil Coombe
brought five registered Angus cows to his farm; he was soon joined by
his brother, Dick, and they have been running the operation together
ever since; and

WHEREAS, Today, Thunder View Farms has more than 200 seedstock cows
on 1,500 acres in Grahamsville, New York, 100 miles north of New York
City; it sits between two of the state's biggest reservoirs, supplying
drinking water to nine million people in the city; and

WHEREAS, In the 1990s, New York City proposed tough watershed
regulations which would have driven most farmers out of business, but
the Coombe family, along with other families in the area, convinced
officials that a way to keep land and water in pristine condition was to
keep the land and forests in well managed farms; and

WHEREAS, As part of this effort, Thunder View Farms installed a
gravity flow system to deliver clean water to all its pastures and to
fence cattle out of the streams; and

WHEREAS, The Coombe family also developed an approach to avoid
nutrient and sediment runoff by installing heavy feeding pads which are
placed more than 1,000 feet away from any streams to protect surface
water; and

WHEREAS, Additionally, silage bags are utilized to feed the cattle,
providing a healthier environment for the cattle while reducing feed
waste and workload; and


WHEREAS, To supplement their electrical needs, the Coombe family
built a wind turbine and installed solar panels; these systems provide
enough electricity to operate the farm shop and their freezer beef
business; and

WHEREAS, Furthermore, selling their quality beef to consumers allows
Thunder View Farms to share its conservation story with the public; and

WHEREAS, Over the years, Thunder View Farms has truly gone above and
beyond to protect local land from development, preserving it for
generations to come; and

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body that the
continuing welfare of the citizens of the State of New York is greatly
enriched and reliably served by the purposeful endeavors of businesses
and individuals who are committed to the preservation of our natural
environment and the enhancement of the appreciation of the distinctive
features of our surroundings, and to the economic well-being of the
areas in which they exist; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Thunder View Farms upon the occasion of its designation as
recipient of the 2018 Environmental Stewardship Award Program by the
National Cattlemen's Beef Association; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Thunder View Farms, Grahamsville, New York.