The Glynwood Grange provides an opportunity for leaders from the Hudson Valley to work together over a period of 18 months to address agriculturally-related issues. The first group of participants was chosen through an application process open to “graduates” of the Community Leadership Alliance program and participants on Countryside Exchange Local Organizing Committees. A key criterion was their commitment to taking action in their communities to move forward on agricultural issues.

Participants included Town Supervisors and County Legislators, zoning and planning board members, the representative of a US Senator, nonprofit professionals and other local leaders from throughout the Hudson Valley. Some are also farmers or consultants who work with farmers.

Participants met at Glynwood every eight weeks to make presentations, mentor each other, and work with experts brought in to help them develop strategies. An Advisory Committee of regional experts also provided assistance.

Jill Way, Supervisor of the Town of Dover, and Peter Barton, a farmer and Councilman in the Town of Beekman, co-chaired the Glynwood Grange with Glynwood’s Director of Programs, Jayne Daly.

Each participant agreed to undertake a project related to agriculture in his or her community.  The projects were very diverse.  For example:

• One undertook a comparison of land uses along the borders of seven communities as the basis for recommendations on actions the towns could take to preserve agricultural land.
   
• Another decided that a video would help residents of his community understand agriculture and the actions that local officials had been taking to support it.
   
• A third partnered with Cornell University to create a unique educational program to help students visiting a state historic site understand agriculture in the Hudson Valley.

Participants indicated that the Glynwood Grange helped them deepen their understanding of agriculture in the Valley; exposed them to new ideas and approaches that are being used by leading edge communities; spurred action at the community level through the participants' projects; and widened their network and deepened relationships among leaders interested in agriculture.

According to orchardist and local leader Peter Barton:  "The work we are doing today in the Grange may be one of the primary reasons that I will still be farming in ten years.  Educating the public and local officials about what farming really is and what farmers need is critical to our staying in business.

Participant List - First Glynwood Grange

Advisory Committee