More than two dozen state and local stakeholders attend the Chenango County Department of Planning and Development's 11th annual Ag Tour for Legislators. (Photo submitted by the Chenango County Department of Planning and Development).

GREENE – The Chenango County Agriculture and Farmland Protection Board held its 11th annual Chenango County Ag Tour for Legislators on Friday, July 22nd.

The Ag Tour for Legislators gives area representatives a first-hand look at agriculture in Chenango County. The tour allows agricultural producers to connect and share their successes and struggles with federal, state and local representatives who could offer help and support.

The first stop on the tour was Freedom Farms in Greene, where owners Dana and Lauren Cavalea said their goal is to show people where their meat comes from.

“We raise all the animals on grass and finish them on grass. No hormones, no soy, no junk. Just grass. The way it is supposed to be. Our goal is to produce nothing but the best – for nobody but the best," Cavalea said.

The second stop of the day was at the Page Seed Company, also in Greene. Page Seed has been supplying seeds of all kinds to people and farmers since 1896. The Page Seed Company produces an amazing 40 million seed packets per year right in Chenango County, then ships worldwide.

After spending lunch at the county-owned Gaius Cook Park just outside of Greene, the tour stopped at its final destination of the day, Cheshire Valley Farms in Oxford. The Hofmann brothers offered a wealth of farming knowledge and concerns about where farming and the production of food is headed.

“No one worries about the food supply when their bellies are full,’’ said Hofmann.

Nearly 25 attended this year's event, including New York State Senator Peter Oberacker, New York State Assemblyman Joe Angelino, Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo, a member of the New York State Ag and Markets, three town supervisors, and other community leaders.

- Information from the Chenango County Department of Planning and Development