Friday June 26th @ 2pm

Members get exclusive first access to complimentary tickets starting Monday, June 8th at 9:00am. General Admission access begins on Wednesday June 10th at 9:00am.

– Registration is closed –

About the Meeting

We’re planning an engaging discussion about the impact COVID-19 will have on our food supply and local farmers. Our speakers will present on –

Thomas Smiarowski: Impact of COVID-19 on Agricultural Operations
Amanda Freund : COVID Implications for a diversified dairy farm

We hope to wrap up the presentations with breakout room discussions and come back for Q&A with our speakers. This will be followed by a SNEC membership meeting, in which we will announce the FY 2020-21 Board of Directors election results.

Members should look for their electronic ballots to be distributed mid-May. We’ll also send out paper ballots if this method is preferable, just choose a medium and cast your votes!

The meeting will take place over Zoom on Friday, June 26th 2020 at 2pm. We look forward to seeing you then!

Meet our speakers:

Amanda Freund is a 3rd generation farmer in Connecticut. She is joined by 5 family members on the farm, together they manage 3 unique businesses: a dairy farm, a farm market and a manufacturing facility transforming their cows’ manure into biodegradable pots called CowPots. She is very active with her dairy cooperative, Agri-Mark (Cabot Cooperative) and has traveled around the country speaking at conferences about diversification, sustainable farming, women in agriculture and the joys (and challenges) of farming with family.

Thomas Smiarowski grew up on a dairy and vegetable farm located on the Connecticut River in Montague, MA. The primary crops grown on the farm were potatoes, cucumbers, sweet corn and asparagus. Following graduation from UMass, he worked for the USDA-Farm Service Agency (FSA) and it’s predecessor the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service (ASCS) for 34 years occupying a variety of positions in two different locations in Massachusetts. The USDA-FSA is responsible for the administration of Federal programs that provide direct financial assistance to agricultural producers. He retired from the USDA-FSA in 2012 and for the past seven years has served as a part-time Extension Educator with the University of Massachusetts (UMass) Crop Insurance/Risk Management Education Program, which is funded through a grant by the USDA-Risk Management Agency (RMA), the Federal agency responsible for the Federal Crop Insurance. He has also worked on a similar program at the University of Rhode Island for the past four years. Currently he assists his brother, who owns and operates the family farm, with asparagus, potatoes, pumpkins and winter squash being the crops currently grown on the farm.

THANK YOU FOR THE CONTINUOUS SUPPORT OF OUR SPONSORS WHICH ALLOWS US TO HOLD THIS MEETING FREE OF CHARGE

Why are we going virtual?

While we’ll miss seeing our members in person at our Annual Summer meeting this year, a virtual meeting will allow for broader participation and will ensure the health and safety of our attendees.

With the ability for folks to tune in from their home or office, there is expanded opportunity for people to participate. Another benefit – this meeting will have no cost registration!

Election Details

SNEC SWCS is allowing online voting for the FY20-21 Board of Directors Election per our change of bylaws, enacted in 2019. Online voting will allow for quick and simple participation! We will also send out paper ballots to all members, for those who prefer this method. Members should receive a personalized link to their online ballot via email.* If a member sends in both a paper ballot and votes electronically, the first ballot received will be counted.

Biographies for BOD candidates are included in the ballot packet linked below. All members are eligible to vote for all candidates. Position Descriptions are available here.

You may write in a candidate; self-nominations are welcome. Candidates must be SNEC members in good standing and committed to participating. Please notify Renee Bouldin, Executive Director, at info@swcssnec.org of write-in candidates, so that the ballot posted can be updated and members notified.

Fiscal Year 2020-21 Board of Directors Election Ballot

*Are you a member and didn’t receive a digital ballot? Please take a moment to send your name and correct mailing address to info@swcssnec.org. This will ensure that you continue to receive up to date information.