Mud Creek Bison Ranch of Savona NY hosted the large group
From Steuben County NY,
The Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) of Steuben County held its Annual Meeting at Mud Creek Bison Ranch on [11.1.2024], bringing together over 100 community members, volunteers, and local leaders to celebrate significant contributions made throughout the year and to recognize individuals and organizations that have positively impacted the community.
The formal meeting began with introductions and a call to order by which guided participants through the agenda. Highlights included the approval of the 2023 Annual Meeting minutes and the introduction of new Board members and program advisory committee members, reflecting a strengthened governance structure.
Among the newly appointed members were:
– **Board of Directors**: Walter Konopski and Chuck Susick
– **Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee**: Gregory Longwell, Dean Massaro, and Stuart Sammis
– **Community Health and Financial Wellness Committee**: Bethany Larrabee and Lynn Hayes
Some of the Key Achievements That were announced:
– **Veggie Van Program**: Expanded to 7 locations with 2 farmers, serving over 4,000 community members.
– **Farm Trail Day**: Engaged over 2,200 participants across 11 farms, providing various agricultural education opportunities.
– **4-H Youth Development**: Launched an Agriculture in the Classroom program, now reaching 7 school districts and over 2,000 students. The program saw nearly 600 youth participate in the Year-End Farm Tour at Damin Farms and included the first-ever 4-H Summer Showcase, with 237 enrollments and over 384 program participants.
– **Regional SFL SNAP-ED**: In collaboration with neighboring counties, conducted 573 workshops, reaching 6,402 participants (1,048 adults, 5,354 youth).
Tess Mckinley – CCE Executive Director presented to honor those who have significantly contributed to CCE Steuben’s mission:
– **Cornell Connection Award**: Gen Meredith and Cheyanna Frost for their instrumental role in establishing the Veggie Van, which provided food access to over 4,000 families in 2024.
– **Agribusiness of the Year**: Damin Farms, recognized for their commitment to local agriculture.
– **Outstanding Youth Award**: Caitlin McKinley, for her exemplary contributions to youth programming.
– **Spirit of Partnership Award**: GST BOCES, for their collaborative efforts in enhancing agricultural education in schools.
– **Outstanding Volunteer Award**: Tom Edwards, honored for his dedication to community service.
– **Friend of Extension Award**: Hendershot Haflingers, for their ongoing support of CCE programs.
In addition to recognizing community partners, Tess Mckinley acknowledged the exceptional contributions of CCE staff, including Jenny Groen, Robert Shirley, and John Bouwens, celebrating their years of service and commitment to the organization’s mission.
The evening concluded with a dessert auction and a trivia night Presented By Prestige Worldwide Inc, fostering a spirit of fun and community engagement. Tess Mckinley (CCE Executive Director) expressed heartfelt thanks to all attendees, volunteers, sponsors, and vendors who made the event a success.
