Podcast Summary: New York Farm Bureau News Bytes

Episode #7: Interview with Tom Denman on County Annual Meetings

Date: November 12, 2025
Host: New York Farm Bureau
Guest: Tom Denman, Associate Director of Membership Development and Engagement

Episode Overview

In this episode, the New York Farm Bureau spotlights the importance and purpose of County Annual Meetings across the state. Host interviews Tom Denman, who shares firsthand insights from his travels to more than 20 such meetings. The discussion centers on how County Annual Meetings foster grassroots advocacy, build networks among farmers and their communities, and surface pressing issues facing New York agriculture.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Structure and Importance of County Annual Meetings

• Function and Format:
  • Each fall, 52 county farm bureaus convene, providing members an open forum to raise resolutions and discuss local agricultural issues.
  • Meetings are attended by farmers, producers, local politicians, and representatives from organizations like Cornell Cooperative Extension.
  • Quote [00:28]:

    "They get together and this is when it's an opportunity for them to raise resolutions and issues that are important to them as well as just get together." — Tom Denman

Predominant Issues and Regional Trends

• Trending Topics:
  • Solar energy developments and the related land use continue to be major talking points, alongside agricultural assessments and exemptions.
  • Geographic diversity brings unique local issues; for instance, the Hudson Valley is experiencing tensions around warehousing and urban expansion.
  • Quote [01:02]:

    "Consistency. I would say that solar continues to be a hot topic across the state, as well as ag assessments and ag exemptions." — Tom Denman

The Value of Debate and Diverse Perspectives

• Healthy Disagreement:
  • Engaged, lively debate is encouraged, leading to more robust advocacy efforts and idea sharing.
  • Regional differences lead to passionate exchanges, especially in zones undergoing rapid change.
  • Quote [01:29]:

    "It's much more engaging when people are going hold up. I have an opinion on this." — Tom Denman

Member Engagement and Benefits

• Why Get Involved:
  • Participating ensures that members have a place at the table when key decisions are made affecting agriculture.
  • It’s not mandatory to bring an issue; listening is also valuable for learning and networking.
  • Quote [02:10]:

    "In New York State, if you are not at the table, you are on the menu." — Tom Denman

Emerging Collaborative Models

• Tri-County Approach:
  • For the first time, three counties held a joint "tri county camp," allowing neighboring counties to share and sign onto top priorities.
  • Fosters broader regional solidarity and support.
  • Quote [02:41]:

    "It was a really interesting opportunity for them to kind of see what other their neighbors were raising as priority issues." — Tom Denman

Pathways for New Members

• From County to State Involvement:
  • Local meetings are an accessible entry point; further engagement at the state (Staycon) or even federal level is encouraged as comfort and interest grow.
  • County bureaus are accessible—no one is more than an hour away from a meeting.
  • Quote [03:18]:

    "That's where you can get involved locally, raise local issues that are affecting you, decide that you like that kind of level involvement, and then move up to our state." — Tom Denman

Networking, Support & Community

• Building Connections:
  • Meetings provide rare opportunities for farmers to gather, share stories, and discuss challenges, which alleviates isolation.
  • Partnerships (e.g., with food banks) are increasingly visible, emphasizing farmers' roles not just in production but also in combating food insecurity.
  • Quote [03:54]:

    "For a lot of these people, I mean, they live in the field, so this is one of the few times they... share stories about how the season has been or talk about upcoming issues." — Tom Denman

Supporting Farmers Beyond the Field

• Access to Resources:
  • County Farm Bureaus help farmers connect with distributors, navigate government issues, and access mental health and transition resources.
  • Programs like FarmNet and Nationwide’s Land is Your Legacy are highlighted for their roles in supporting both operational and personal aspects of farming life.
  • Quote [06:19]:

    "Our heritage partner nationwide offers a fantastic land is your legacy program, which is all about helping you transition your farm to the next generation." — Tom Denman

Grassroots Advocacy & the Voice of Agriculture

• Why Grassroots Matters:
  • Farm Bureau relies on collective local action to drive meaningful statewide and national policy.
  • Membership is open and relevant to anyone invested in the food system, not just producers.
  • Quote [06:51]:

    "Everybody needs to be involved in some way, whether you're, you know, you're producing the food, you're distributing the food, you're selling the food, or you're consuming the food." — Tom Denman

Encouragement to Participate

• Tom’s Closing Advice:
  • Everyone should experience the advocacy process and see how local concerns can transform into statewide or federal policies.
  • Quote [07:48]:

    "Everybody should be involved in the advocacy process at least once in their life to see how all that works, how you voice a concern. It goes to our resolutions committee, it becomes a bill, and then it works its way up..." — Tom Denman

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Advocacy:

  "In New York State, if you are not at the table, you are on the menu, they're going to come for you in some way." — Tom Denman [02:10]

• On Community:

  "Farming can be kind of lonely. ...It's nice to know that you're busy and you're dealing with all this, but you're not alone in what you're doing." — Tom Denman [05:12]

• On Inclusion:

  "Just because you might not be producing food yourself doesn't mean you don't realize the importance of having access to that." — Tom Denman [06:51]

Key Timestamps

• 00:28 — Purpose and structure of County Annual Meetings
• 01:02 — Trending topics: Solar, ag assessments, exemptions
• 02:10 — Value of being present and engaged
• 02:41 — New collaborative models (Tri-County Camp)
• 03:18 — Pathways from local to state involvement
• 03:54 — Importance of networking and community support
• 05:12 — How County Farm Bureaus support members
• 06:19 — Overview of member benefits and resources
• 06:51 — The meaning of grassroots advocacy
• 07:48 — Encouragement to engage in advocacy

Takeaway for Listeners

County Annual Meetings are the engine room of grassroots advocacy in New York agriculture. They foster debate, collective problem-solving, networking, and direct support for those at the heart of farming. Tom Denman underlines that anyone—producer or consumer—has a role and a voice in shaping the future of food and farming across the state.

Final advice:

"Get involved." — Tom Denman [07:48]