SHERBURNE - Regional agricultural leaders, farmers, researchers, and economic development partners gathered Thursday at the Sherburne Inn for an agricultural roundtable focused on strengthening local supply chains, supporting farm businesses, and navigating emerging challenges facing American agriculture.

The three-hour convening created space for direct dialogue between farmers and regional institutions to identify barriers, share available resources, and explore pathways for sustainable agricultural economic growth driven by our local community.

The roundtable was convened by Sherburne Town Planning Board Chair Stephanie Staley and Town Supervisor Charlie Mastro, in partnership with the Mohawk Valley Economic Development District, Inc. (MVEDD), in response to feedback gathered during Sherburne’s ongoing ten-year comprehensive planning process. Community engagement efforts revealed a clear need for farmers to connect directly with currently available resources while strategizing ways to reduce the administrative and cognitive burden associated with grants, funding, and farming modernization.

Participants included representatives from Cornell University, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chenango County—including Director Craig Brown—as well as representatives from Madison County Cornell Cooperative Extension, Chenango County Farm Bureau, Mohawk Valley Economic Development District, Inc. (MVEDD), and regional agricultural leaders. Dairy farmers and maple producers from Sherburne were in attendance, alongside presenters sharing concrete tools to help local producers access new markets. Notably, Victoria Giarratano of Cornell University presented on the Taste NY program, outlining opportunities for local specialty food producers to place products on shelves regionally and potentially nationally.

Discussions centered on localizing supply chains, integrating academic research directly into farm operations, and identifying systemic resource challenges that limit farmers’ access to capital. Mohawk Valley Economic Development, Inc. (MVEDD) and Cornell representatives highlighted grant pathways and technical assistance opportunities, while also identifying current gaps that regional partners can jointly advocate to address.

“It's crucial we get direct feedback from our farmers. We've heard some of the pitfalls facing farmers, and I’m tired of seeing America bite the hand that feeds,” said Stephanie Staley, Chair of the Sherburne Town Planning Board. “I believe everyone in this room has the capacity to come together to identify and resolve the challenges facing our economy. When farmers are at the center and we come together, I truly believe we can build the American agricultural systems we want with Sherburne leading the way.”

As a next step, Chair Staley recommended integrating this work into Sherburne’s comprehensive planning process and aligning it with the community’s request for a future business incubator. Participants also expressed interest in a follow-up convening in late 2026 or early 2027, structured as a hands-on workshop to directly connect farmers with technical resources, funding support, and cutting edge implementation tools.

The roundtable reflects a nonpartisan, community-driven approach focused on unity, economic viability, and practical problem-solving, with the goal of ensuring local farmers are equipped to succeed in a rapidly changing policy and market environment.

About the Conveners

The agricultural roundtable was convened by Stephanie Staley, Chair of the Sherburne Town Planning Board, in partnership with Town Supervisor Charlie Mastro and the Mohawk Valley Economic Development District, Inc. (MVEDD), as part of Sherburne’s broader comprehensive planning and economic development efforts.

- Information from the Town of Sherburne