
Ag Solutions & Networking Expo
The Ag Solutions and Networking Expo takes place beginning at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, February 18, 2024 at SUNY Cobleskill Prentice Hall located at 152 Albany Avenue, Cobleskill, NY.
Join us for a day of networking and collaboration tailored to farmers, rural landowners, and aspiring agriculturalists. The event is designed to focus on the topics that matter most to the agricultural community in our region.
Co-hosted by Schoharie Ag Development, New York Farm Bureau, Cornell Cooperative Extension, SUNY Cobleskill’s Institute for Rural Vitality, NYSERDA, and National Grid
Lunch Included
Register by Monday, February 11
Agenda
Tuesday, February 18
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM – Vendor Set up
8:30 AM – Registration opens
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM – Vendor Expo Open
9:30 AM – 10:00 AM – Introduction/Welcome
10:00 AM – 10:45 AM 1: Breakout Session – Choose between 4 concurrent sessions
- 1a: Clean Energy Solutions for Greenhouses & CEA
Gretchen Schimelpfenig, Executive Director, Greenhouse Lighting and Systems Engineering(GLASE) - 1b: Going Green: Renewable Energy Support for NY Farms
Guillermo Metz, Solar and Agriculture Senior Resource Educator, CCE Tompkins County
Lauren Ray, Agricultural Sustainability and Energy Engineer, Cornell’s Pro-Dairy - 1c: Value Add and Product Development
Mary Cool, Food Scientist, Institute for Rural Vitality
10:45 AM – 11:00 AM – Break
11:00 AM – 11:45 AM 2: Breakout Session Choose between 4 concurrent sessions
- 2a: Secure the Future of the Family Farm for Generations to Come
Laurie Bedford, Financial Consultant, NY FarmNet - 2b: Local Ag Issues Roundtables
Steven Smith, District 9 Director , New York Farm Bureau & Caroline Myran, Agricultural Development Specialist, Schoharie County Office of Agricultural Business Development - 2c: Growing Agritourism: Free Resources to Promote Your Farm
Cassandra Harrington, Executive Director, Destination Marketing and Visit Schoharie County
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM - 2d: Diversification in Action: Real-Life Success Stories from the Farm
Deb Pernat, Dairy Farmer
12:00 PM – 1:30 PM – Lunch with NYFB Public Policy – Members of the NYFB public policy department will provide an update on the state’s agricultural legislative issues.
1:30 PM – 3:00 PM Networking and Vendor Expo
- Network with vendors and speakers
For Questions and additional information please contact the Institue for Rural vitality at 518-225-5043 or email at