With the advent of the new year having come this week, it is traditional and time worthy to reflect on the previous year and focus on areas you would like to grow in and set goals to accomplish. This isn’t revolutionary, nevertheless it is profitable. As a matter of fact, I would suggest to you it is worth doing regularly, however an annual reset is better than none at all.
This year, the new year will establish a fundamentally new perspective for me, as I have accepted a position at New York Farm Bureau, the states largest agricultural advocacy organization. I will help 8 counites from Albany to Rockland, or the Hudson Valley, strengthen their County Farm Bureaus through various programs and tasks as well as serving as a liaison between them and the State office. This is an organization that I am intimately been involved in, having served as the Schoharie County Farm Bureau President for 5 years from 2018-2023. Farm Bureau is valuable beyond measure in my estimation, because it establishes, through itsgrassroots policy development, a unified voice, advocating for farmers both to the public as well as to our elected officials. Solomon records for us in Ecclesiastes 4:12 “And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken”. We are stronger together, having a sound unified voice is of vital importance. It is easy to gain misconceptions of any industry, agriculture isn’t immune to this, thus it becomes our responsibility to speak up for ourselves. Farm Bureau is the best vehicle to accomplish this for farmers.
In taking on this new role, I must depart from my former. Serving as a District Technician at the Montgomery County Soil and Water Conservation District. In this capacity, we assisted farms in adapting to environmental conservation practices that help make their farmland more sustainable. Through multiple funding pools and technical assistance, we would establish riparian zones, implement rotational grazing systems, stop erosion, improve soil health and establish storm water controls to improve water quality in vulnerable watersheds. This work was rewarding, in that we would help create a stewardship mindset, with the goal of caretaking for Divine creation. What an important task. Many skills and lessons that I have learned, I will take with me and implement them on our family farm as well.
In reflection on my years spent promoting conservation practices and systems, I have a grateful heart for many of my colleagues around the state, who helped me develop and hone my skills. Certainly, it has aided me in focusing in on my personal ministry of aiming to please God as much as possible through our endeavors on the farm.
“’And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” Genesis 1:26
“And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to Dress it and to keep it” Genisis 2:15.
We want to glorify Him and all we do, including the production of nutrient dense food for the betterment of our community, establishing wildlife areas to help our local ecosystems be diverse and flourish, igniting our soil health through practices encouraging microbial life and so on and so forth. Therse are all goals that my eyes have been opened to and finessed, as a result of my labor at the Conservation District the previous 6+ years. Looking forward, I hope to advance the mission of Farm Bureau, through logic and truth. Through policy development, I hope to build up our local farms, help stimulate local economies and to accomplish it in conjunction with sound environmental practices. In all of this, my hope will be that for my corner of the world through my earthly vocation as a farmer and supporter of farms; Christ will be lifted up and his Gospel shared
From our family to yours, have a blessed New Year.
John V