The Watershed Agricultural Council fortified its ranks in early 2013. Three staff were internally promoted within the Agricultural and Easement Programs. A Farmhearts Fellow was also appointed within the Farm to Market Program. And a long-time supporter of Croton Watershed farming also joined the East of Hudson Program in the Westchester County office. All positions strengthen the region's agricultural community by protecting farmland and improving on-farm management, water quality, farmer education and direct market profitability.

Within the Easement Program, Ryan Naatz moved from Stewardship Specialist to a newly created position as Stewardship Coordinator. Naatz will oversee stewardship field operations

such as monitoring and management of ongoing stewardship projects. "I'm glad to see Ryan accepting the challenge of this newly created, relationship-building position," noted Council Executive Director, Craig Cashman. "Ryan is true to process and brings an approachable, no-nonsense personality to the table. With 23,000 acres under conservation easement
 (CE) in the watershed, the Council is looking to Ryan to set the bar high for this highly visible role within easement stewardship." During 2012, the Stewardship Program worked with landowners to manage over 50 ongoing stewardship projects, including implementation of timber harvests, bluestone quarrying, rights of way, agricultural structures, and stream work on Council CE-encumbered properties.

Rob Birdsall moved to the Small Farms Coordinator position within the Agricultural Program. Based out of the 44 West Street office in Walton, Rob works with the whole farm planning team to provide best management practices and recommendations to 75 farms in the Catskill/Delaware Watersheds. Rob has a long history with the Council, working his way up from the Easement Program as Stewardship Specialist and previously with the Agricultural Program as a Whole Farm Planner. "Rob has a firm grasp on farm operations and is an excellent relationship builder as well," noted Cashman. "Rob is a natural leader and a perfect choice for our expanding Small Farms Program."

John Van Benschoten was promoted to Stewardship Specialist within the Easement Program. "John joined WAC in December 2010, working as the Engineering Specialist in the Small Farms Program," noted Cashman. "He quickly proved to be a valuable asset to the Council. I am confident that John's knowledge and experience as a land surveyor, agricultural engineer and rural farmer, combined with his education as a conservation biologist and village trustee will make him a great addition to the Easement Program Stewardship team." VanBenschoten was formerly an Engineering Specialist with the Council's Agricultural Program.  

Eleanor Blakeslee-Drain of Roscoe fills the Farmhearts Fellow position and will serve as coordinator of the Farm to Market Program's two beginner farmer initiatives, CatskillsFarmLink.org and CatskillsCRAFT.org (Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farming Training). "Eleanor brings a fresh perspective on what it's like to be a young, new and beginner farmer to this position," said Cashman. "We look to her and her story to inform others that farming is alive and well in the Catskills." A year ago, Eleanor returned to the Catskills after completing farm apprenticeships in Massachusetts and Kentucky. She launched her own operation, Berry Brook Farm, where in her first year, she sold at the local farmers' market, direct to stores, restaurants and caterers, and through a 10-week CSA.

Patti Shulman joins the Council as the Executive Assistant to the East of Hudson Program in the Croton Watershed's Yorktown Heights office. Patti has a wealth of corporate marketing experience and in recent years, was involved with the development of the Friends of Hilltop Hanover Farm and Environmental Center.  The Friends group is a nonprofit tasked with raising the profile of the organic vegetable farm and learning center, to obtain an increased level of public support in light of reduced financial resources from Westchester County.  Following Patti's involvement with the Friends group, she continued to volunteer her time at Hilltop Hanover Farm (site of the WAC EoH office), assisting with bookkeeping and providing general office support.  "Patti brings many local connections and a solid relationship with Hilltop Hanover Farm to the team in Yorktown Heights," said Cashman. "Patti's skills will provide the necessary office support we need to anchor the small staff while delivering high-quality, participant interactions and customer service.

"As we enter our 20^th year in business, the Watershed Agricultural Council strives to hire from within and tap the local talent pool as part of our commitment to strong local leadership in agriculture and forestry," added Cashman. "There are many highly talented people in the watershed. At the Council, we're proud to have 50 of them working in our watershed protection programs recognized worldwide. We are also honored to work with hundreds of others through agency and nonprofit partnerships, building contractors and their crews, and outreach efforts like Pure Catskills to create a watershed management industry. We're firmly committed to elevating the visibility of farm, food and wood-product businesses as regional economic drivers. It's good business for our communities and good practice for clean water." For more information on the Watershed Agricultural Council, visit www.nycwatershed.org.

About the Watershed Agricultural Council

Celebrating its 20^th year, the Watershed Agricultural Council continues 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. Partnering with farmers, agri-businesses, woodland owners, forest industry professionals and others, the Council furthers both regional business profitability and environmental stewardship.

The Watershed Agricultural Council oversees a regional buy local initiative under the Pure Catskills brand that connects regional farm, food and wood product businesses to consumers and outside markets through direct marketing and online outlets. The Council also assists private landowners in using a variety of best management practices, education, tools and approaches, such as conservation easements, to keep property within a working landscape. The Council protects over 23,000 acres of farmland through conservation easements, and works with over 500 farmers and 1,000 private woodland owners in the Croton, Catskill and Delaware Watersheds.

The Watershed Agricultural Council works extensively through partnerships with other nonprofit organizations, government agencies and community stakeholders. These collaborations support a watershed management industry that employs hundreds of people throughout the region. The Council is funded in part by New York City Department of Environmental Protection, the U.S. Forest Service, U.S.D.A and other sources. For more information, visit www.nycwatershed.org and www.BuyPureCatskills.com.

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