2006 Annual Meeting of the Jefferson County
Agricultural Development Corporation

Friday, February 2, 2007
Best Western Carriage House Inn

The 2006 Annual Meeting of the Jefferson County Agricultural Development Corporation (JCADC) was held on Friday, February 2^nd, 2007 at the Carriage House Inn in Watertown.  The meeting started at 11:30am and ended at 1:30pm.  92 people were present including 34 Corporation members.

Board President, Douglas Shelmidine, presided over the meeting.   JCADC Board member Bob Laisdell provided the invocation.  Jefferson County Dairy Princess, Christina Forrester and members of her court, provided a toast to agriculture where everyone used glasses of milk to salute our industry.

Jefferson County Dairy Princess Christina Forrester, and members of her court, provided a toast to agriculture at the 2006 JCADC Annual Meeting.

  After a buffet lunch, current JCADC board members, Jan Martusewicz (agribusiness representative), and Nancy Robbins (dairy farmer representative) were approved by the membership to be nominated to the County Board of Legislators for appointment to  another three year term to the Board of Directors.  This will be their final three year term.

 JCADC Chief Executive Officer Jay M. Matteson then provided the 2006 Annual Report.  Jay reported on the opportunities that lay ahead for our agricultural industry including dairy farming and wine and grape production.  Matteson indicated it was critical for the industry to position itself to take advantage of opportunities as they arise.

 Our keynote speaker was Mr. Gary Heckman, Executive Director for the Pennsylvania Center for Dairy Excellence.  Gary discussed the development of the Northeast Dairy Leadership Team Initiative.  Heckman indicated that Jay Matteson, Ron Robbins and Doug Shelmidine serve on the leadership team.  He also indicated that the New York Farm Viability Institute was creating a New York Center for Dairy Excellence which was identified as a critical step towards working successfully with the Northeast Initiative.  The Northeast Dairy Leadership Initiative is a joint effort between New York, Pennsylvania, and Vermont to grow our dairy industries and give us a competitive advantage over other regions in the U.S.

JCADC President Doug Shelmidine presents Gary Heckman, our keynote speaker from the Pennsylvania Center for Dairy Excellence, with a gift basket and certificate thanking him for his efforts.

 The owners of the Sackets Harbor Trading Company presented JCADC with a check for $25 donated through the Trading Company’s website www.tasteny.us . The money was raised through the website Community Causes program where people purchasing products through the website can donate 15% of their total purchase to a listed organization.

JCADC President Doug Shelmidine accepts check from Sackets harbor Trading Company owners Mark Pacilio (center) and Dan Menapace (right).

In a surprise announcement, the New York Farm Viability Institute (NYFVI) asked if they could make a presentation during the meeting. Ron Robbins, local dairy farmer and NYFVI Board member informed the audience that JCADC is being awarded with a grant for $115,000 to initiate a two county dairy profit team project.  NYFVI is looking for the program to mirror what Pennsylvania has done with their dairy profit team project.  Jefferson County’s project will be a two year effort.  The purpose is to improve the profitability and productivity of participating dairy farms and have them continue the effort after the grant is over.

NYFVI Board member Ron Robbins (left) congratulates Jay Matteson (center) and Doug Shelmidine (right) for receiving a $115,000 grant to initiate a two county dairy profit team project.

Chairman of the Jefferson County Board of Legislators, Kent Burto, took to the podium to congratulate JCADC on receiving the grant on thanked us for the work we do supporting agriculture.  The Jefferson County Board of Legislators is extremely supportive of agriculture and Chairman Burto’s remarks were appreciated.

Jefferson County Board of legislators Chairman Kent Burto thanks JCADC for its work to grow agriculture and offers his congratulations on the $115,000 grant announcement.

 The Annual Meeting ended with JCADC’s presentation of our Friends of Agriculture Recognition.  Every year JCADC selects those deserving of recognition for their efforts to support agriculture in Jefferson County.  Previous winners are NYS Senator James Wright,  County Legislator Bob Boice, Steve Duflo with the North Country Insurance Agency, Judy Tomlinson formerly with the North Country regional Office of Empire State Development,  Porterdale Farms and Steve Harter.  This year, JCADC recognized Mr. Bruce Armstrong who recently retired from the Jefferson County Planning Department and David Whitmore, who is a field staffer for U.S. Congressman John McHugh’s office.

 Mr. Armstrong was recognized because of his work on behalf of agriculture as County Planning Director.  Bruce was instrumental in the agricultural districts program which has protected thousands of acres of farmland.  Bruce helped organize the 1998 Agriculture and Natural Resources Conference where the idea of an ag development corporation and an ag coordinator position developed.  Under Armstrong’s leadership, the County developed an ag and farmland protection plan.  He also served on the ad-hoc committee that developed the Ag Coordinator’s position and formed the JCADC.

Bruce Armstrong was recognized as a Friend of  Agriculture at the 2006 JCADC Annual Meeting.  Mr. Armstrong thanks the Corporation and the County Board of Legislators for the recognition.

 Not able to be present at the JCADC Annual Meeting, David Whitmore was recognized as a Friend of Agriculture, and arrangements will be made to make a presentation to him at his convenience.  Working as Congressman McHugh’s field staff person for Northern New York, David has worked hard to assist the industry in resolving many issues.  Whitmore has provided a broad vision of how agriculture should work through the political process.  Many of our Dairy Manufacturers have benefited from David’s work on behalf of Congressman McHugh and our ag industry owes a debt of gratitude for his work.