Chris DiBenedetto, and his wife Judy, own Crystal Valley Farm in Halcott Center. Together they run the family farm, milking 65 cows and raising 35 head of youngstock on their 120-acre farm. They also raise an additional 30 head at Council member Sally Fairbairn's farm in Arkville. The DiBenedetto's are participants of the Council's Agricultural Program.

"Chris has been involved with the Nutrient Management Program Sub-Committee for several years," noted Huneke. "That Program is a key revenue driver on many watershed farms. The program compensates farmers for manure management, spreading and record-keeping. Chris also has been an Agricultural Program advocate. Each year, he provides a guided farm tour to first-year graduate students from Bard College. He takes students through his farm, talks about the successes he's had with our programs, and the challenges he faces as a dairyman in the 21st century."

DiBenedetto joins fourteen others in this oversight role on the Council of Directors. Current members from Delaware County include: Tom Donnelly (Walton), Sally Fairbairn of Arkville, Richard Giles (Hamden), Darby Hartwell (Stamford), Council chairman Fred Huneke (Delhi), Tom Hutson (DeLancey), Steve Reed (Hamden),  Ken Smith (Stamford) along with John Verhoeven (East Jewett) from Greene County, Vice Chairman Dave Cammer and Treasurer John Riedl (both of Gilboa, Schoharie County), Barbara Howard (North Salem, Westchester County), and the DEP representative, John Schwartz.

"I also want to thank two exiting Directors," added Huneke. "Dave Post and William Coleman, both from Hobart, have shared their experience and talents with us for almost 20 years. Our organization has grown so much under their guidance, and for that we're grateful."

 The Watershed Agricultural Council works 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 New  Yorkers. Working with farmers, agri-businesses, forest landowners, forest industry professionals and others, the WAC seeks to enhance both business profitability and environmental stewardship. Landowners use a variety of best management practices, tools and approaches, such as conservation easements, to keep property within a working landscape. The Council currently holds conservation easements on nearly 20,000 acres and works with over 500 farmers and 1,000 forest landowners in the Croton and Catskill/Delaware watersheds. Along with the oversight provided by the Council 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.