NEW BERLIN – More than 40 of Chenango County’s agricultural leaders, together with state elected officials, gathered in New Berlin Tuesday for the second annual county farms tour, a day trip that highlights the local agricultural industry while also pointing to some of the challenges presently facing it.

“Last year’s tour was good, but this year has been great,” said Chenango County Agriculture and Farm Protection Bureau member Donald Franklin. Franklin originated the idea of an ag tour last year as a way of giving officials the chance to see the county’s ag industry first-hand.

“I wanted to get our state, local and federal legislators out here in the fields to take a look at it and what needs to be done,” he said. “It’s been a learning experience for me and I hope for everyone else too.”

This year’s tour – sponsored by NBT Bank, Reese-Marshall, Commerce Chenango, Chenango Agricultural and Farmland Protection Bureau, Chenango Agriculture Development Council, and the Deer Path Restaurant – welcomed a number of New York officials including NY Agriculture and Markets representative Geoff Palmer, State Assemblymen William Magee and Bob Reilly, and State Senator Tony Avella.