Farm Bureau will meet next Thursday at Red Rooster

Wayne County Farm Bureau will kick off its membership drive March 16, with a meeting at the Red Rooster in Fairville.

Assemblyman Bob Oaks, a long-time Farm Bureau member, will be the speaker. New York Farm Bureau President John Lincoln, a dairy farmer from Bloomfield, is invited, along with Jonathan Taylor, of Newark, member of the NYS Farm Bureau board.

Some two dozen Wayne County Farm Bureau members are working on the drive. Wayne County currently has more than 700 members who produce everything from milk to alpaca wool. A significant number of members aren't in direct agricultural production, but belong because they support agriculture and the rural lifestyle.

'With all of the challenges facing agriculture today, its important farmers and rural landowners stick together to protect their rights,' said John Sorbello, a Palmyra farmer and chairman of Wayne County's Membership Committee. 'We need to insure that they'll be able to carry on the rural lifestyle they enjoy into the future.'

Farm Bureau works on the state and national level on issues that are important to rural communities.

'One of the most important issues on the forefront is eminent domain and the rights of property owners,' Sorbello said.

Wayne County is one of just a few New York Farm Bureau counties that offer members added benefits for joining. About two dozen merchants provide discounts on everything from building materials and fuel to pizza and other food items.

Jim Hughes, a Galen farmer and member of the board of directors, said what is especially good about the discounts is they show that local businesses understand the connection between agriculture and the health of their profits.

Farm Bureau advocates for everyone from the small hobby farmer up to the family farm, he said. No one can speak for agriculture in New York like Farm Bureau can.

Besides Sorbello and Hughes, other members of the Membership Committee are: Beth Hoad of Newark, Fred Baker of Savannah, Andy Porter of Lyons, Scott Arliss and Jay Martin of Clyde and John Crane, Roger Shufelt and Ron Eygnor of Wolcott.

For information about joining Farm Bureau or to help out with membership, call Sorbello at 597.4148 or the Farm Bureau office, 315.568.2658.

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