PRESS RELEASE: Delaware County Residents Join 
Watershed Agricultural Council 
 
PHOTO LINK:  
 
PHOTO CAPTION:
The Watershed Agricultural Council welcomed three new members to its 15-member board last month. (Seated l-r) Sally Fairbairn, Linda DeWitt, Barbara Howard, Fred Huneke (chairman). (Back row l-r) Dave Post, Ken Smith, John Schwartz (NYC DEP), John Verhoeven, Dan Palm, Richard Giles, Darby Hartwell, Tom Hutson, William Coleman , Dave Cammer. (Not pictured: Joe Eisele)
A beef cattleman, an organic farmer and a wood-products business owner will serve three-year terms.
WALTON, NY - The Watershed Agricultural Council (WAC) recently added three local residents to its 15-member board.  A beef cattleman, an organic farmer and a wood-products business owner will each serve a three-year term on the Council. The WAC is a regional nonprofit organization working with farm and forest landowners in the New York City watershed region. 
 
The purpose of the Watershed Agricultural Council is to protect both the rural, land-based economy of the watershed region and the drinking water quality of a reservoir system that serves over nine million people.  Working with farmers, agribusinesses, forest landowners, forest industry professionals and others, the WAC seeks to enhance both business profitability and environmental stewardship.  It works through partnerships with other nonprofit organizations, government agencies and community stakeholders to achieve its purpose.
 
"The Council is comprised of watershed farm and forest landowners," explains Fred Huneke, Chairman of the Board, "along with a representative from the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).   On behalf of the Council, I'm proud to welcome these talented, passionate individuals to our Board."
 
The new WAC Board members are:,
-- Ken Smith, co-owner of Catskill Craftsmen, a 90,000-square-foot woods-products facility in Stamford,
-- Joe Eisele, owner of a beef cattle operation in Andes, and
-- Richard Giles, owner of Lucky Dog Organic Farm in Hamden
 
"These three join us at a critical time in the development of our organization," added Huneke.  "As we move forward in renewing our strategic plan, the Council will be revisiting the overall organizational mission and purpose, and the focus and delivery of its programs.  How we do business in agriculture and forestry is changing. Maintaining our clean-water focus while addressing these regional demands will help strengthen our area, both economically and environmentally."
 
The Council meets monthly to oversee the vision and role of WAC within watershed communities for the benefit of both upstream agricultural and forestry businesses and downstream water consumers.  
Smith, Eisele and Giles join twelve others in this oversight role.  Current board members from Delaware County include: William Coleman (Hobart), Linda DeWitt (Delhi), Sally Fairbairn of Arkville, Darby Hartwell (Stamford), Board chairman Fred Huneke (Delhi), Tom Hutson (DeLancey), Dan Palm (Stamford) and Dave Post (Hobart) along with John Verhoeven (East Jewett) from Greene County, Dave Cammer (Gilboa) from Schoharie County, Barbara Howard (North Salem) from Westchester County, and the DEP representative, John Schwartz.
 
"We've made great strides in the past 15 years and I want to thank all who have served on our board through the years," added Huneke. "I'd also like to acknowledge Gail Hillriegel and Aissa O'Neill who departed this year. We appreciate their service and the farming perspective they brought to the table."
 
Along with the oversight provided by the Board of Directors, the WAC partners with agencies such as Cornell Cooperative Extensions, Soil & Water Conservation Districts, the US Department of Agriculture, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Services, the US Forest Service and other nonprofit organizations to guide and implement the program. To keep close to the pulse of the communities and landowners that it serves, the WAC program committees enlist farm and forest business owner/operators and other local experts to round out their viewpoints.
 
The WAC is funded by The New York City Department of Environmental Protection, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Forest Service and other federal and foundation sources.  The WAC is an equal opportunity employer and provider.
 
For more information, visit www.nycwatershed.org.
 
# # # # #
Your privacy is important to us; therefore, we will not sell, rent, or give your name or email address to anyone. And, you can unsubscribe at any time by clicking on the link at the bottom of any WAC eBurst.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
START: Mar. 9, 2009
END: Mar. 31, 2009

SUMMARY: Three local business owners compliment 15-member Board of Directors. Others with watershed farm and forestry interests join various committees.

RELEASE CONTACT: 
WAC Board Chairman
(607) 865-7790 x110
WAC CONTACT:
Tara Collins
Communications Director
(607) 865-7017 x226
(607) 643-5148
LINKS OF INTEREST:
 
The Watershed Agricultural Council is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to support the economic viability of agriculture and forestry through the protection of water quality and the promotion of land conservation in the New York City Watershed region. The WAC is funded by The New York City Department of Environmental Protection, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Forest Service and other federal, foundation and private sources. The WAC is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.