FWA - Future of
Westmoreland Agriculture
Community-Wide Effort is Key to
"Future of Westmoreland Agriculture"
Agriculture is an essential
industry in Westmoreland County, and it touches everyone -- not only farmers and
the businesses that support them, but every individual and the community at
large.
To ensure that it is sustained and strengthened, a new initiative is
being launched and it involves a community-wide effort.
The "Future of Westmoreland Agriculture (FWA)" is bringing members
of the community together to identify, understand, and address the challenges
and opportunities facing the farming community in Westmoreland County.
The program is based on a model developed by the Penn State
Cooperative Extension, but it is entirely community-driven. A cross-section of
community volunteers -- farmers, non-farmers, business owners, community
leaders, rural land owners, residential property owners and others -- will
conduct the program which consists of surveying farmers, developing action plans
and then working with local government and others to implement strategies for
the future.
"I have been a farmer and active in the farming community for many
years, and this is the first time I have seen a community-wide effort focused on
agriculture in our county," said Bob Graham, a Westmoreland County dairy farmer.
Graham is chairman of an oversight team of farmers and non-farmers who will lead
the program. Others on the team include representatives of the business
community, local government, land owners and other community leaders.
Although this is a grass-roots program with no formal ties to any
specific farming or government agencies, there is interest and support for the
"Future of Westmoreland Agriculture" initiative. Westmoreland County
Commissioners, county planners, and local agencies for example, are aware of the
program and welcome the outcomes as part of the overall planning for the county.
Cumberland and York Counties have used the same model offered by the
Penn State Cooperative Extension and found the entire process useful in
addressing potential obstacles, generating new ideas and raising overall
awareness and appreciation for the farming industry. Some of the outcomes in
Cumberland and York Counties included the creation of new educational
programs/materials, developing alternative marketing information, and a
'buy-local' campaign.
"Every county is different, and the model is designed to be
customized to result in practical and workable outcomes specific to that
community," said Gary Sheppard, County Extension Director.
Initial steps in the "Future of Westmoreland Agriculture" program
will include an input-gathering phase which begins in October. A series of
"Let's Talk" sessions with farmers will take place to hear directly from them
what issues and opportunities they see. From the discussions at the "Let's Talk"
sessions, a survey will be developed and volunteers will fan out in the
community to visit and survey farm owners. Data will be compiled and Penn State
will offer its services in analyzing and identifying action areas.
The goal is to have a set of action items identified by the spring
of 2005. From there, the implementation work begins which will include
communication of the outcomes to local government officials, planners and
others.
"This is not just another program that is ambitious in the beginning
but lacks follow-through. Our goal is to develop workable ideas and plans and to
see that they are considered as part of the long-term planning for Westmoreland
County," Graham said.
"There is real commitment to this effort. When you have people such
as computer software engineers, small business owners, community leaders and
others with no involvement in farming focusing on the impact of agriculture, you
know you are off to a good start," Graham said of the volunteer leadership team.
Graham and his team have recruited a cross-section of additional
volunteers for a Task Force that will actually run the program. The Task Force
of 25-30 farmers and non-farmers was mobilized on October 6 and is already at
work on the input-gathering phase. Additional volunteers are still needed to
assist with farm visits and other activities related to the survey process.
The Future of Westmoreland Agriculture (FWA) is a community-wide
effort to build a strong foundation for agriculture in Westmoreland County that
ensures the health and economic viability of our farms, our people and our
communities.
Anyone interested in becoming an FWA volunteer should contact Anita Nichols,
Community Development
Extension Educator, at 724-837-1402
or email:
adn3@psu.edu.