News from the Somerset County Board of County Commissioners
Shanel Y. Robinson, Commissioner Director | Sara Sooy, Commissioner Deputy Director
Melonie Marano, Commissioner | Paul Drake, Commissioner | Doug Singleterry, Commissioner
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 7, 2021
Somerset County Ag Board to Host Free Outdoor Event at Duke Farms
Participants Will Hear a Panel of Prominent Female Farmers Discuss ‘Influencing Agriculture’
HILLSBOROUGH, NJ – Sit down with Somerset County Commissioner Melonie Marano while she leads a panel discussion titled “Influencing Agriculture’’ a free, ticketed event to be held on Sept. 14, at 2 p.m. The discussion will feature a panel of local influential female farmers sharing their stories, the history of farming in local communities, the changes in agriculture, and their thoughts about the future of the industry.
“Some may not realize that women have always played a key role in agriculture since as far back as the very founding of our country, and they are becoming even more influential in the industry now,” said Somerset County Commissioner Melonie Marano. “We are proud that Somerset County has one of the highest numbers of female farmers in the state. This event will give the public an opportunity to hear some of the best local female farmers’ stories, what challenges they’ve faced, why they chose farming as a career, and how they became successful.”
Join co-owner, co-operator of Norz Hill Farm and Market, Debbie Norz; Professor of Animal Sciences at Delaware Valley University, Joanne Powell; Co-operator of Middlebush Dairy Farm and Co-owner of Big Cow creamery, Erica Puskas; Sustainable Agriculture Coordinator for Duke Farms, Lauren Salvatore; and Executive Director of Duke Farms, Margaret Waldock. For more information about the panelists, visit https://rebrand.ly/InfluencingAgriculture
Tickets are free and available on a first-come, first-serve basis through Eventbrite at https://influencingagriculture.eventbrite.com. Seating is limited, but a waitlist will be offered.
“Influencing Agriculture” will be held at the Farm Fresh Café in the Farm Barn at Duke Farms, located at 1112 Dukes Parkway W., Hillsborough, NJ 08844. For more information, contact Somerset County Agriculture Development Board Coordinator Kate Katzer at 908-231-7021.
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