Tkaczyk Named to Farm Bureau’s Circle of Friends

State Senator Cecilia Tkaczyk has been named to the New York Farm Bureau’s 2013 Circle of Friends.

“Agriculture is the State’s largest industry, generating more than $30 billion for the New York economy,” Senator Tkaczyk said. “Right now, small farms in New York are struggling to survive, and it’s critical that we support the industry and help it to grow and create jobs.”

A member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Senator Tkaczyk has sponsored and fought for legislation to help small family farms recover from natural disasters and to expand their operations. She has also sponsored measures to market and utilize locally grown foods in New York’s restaurants and senior centers, to expand the craft beer and wine industries, and to lower the energy costs  of local farms and agricultural businesses.

The New York Farm Bureau is a non-partisan organization that works to support New York agriculture. Each year the Farm Bureau announces the legislators who have best supported
New York’s agricultural business and names them to the “Circle of Friends.”

“The selected lawmakers were chosen for their commitment to the hard working farm families in New York. Each friend has demonstrated that they understand the importance of agriculture to the people of their legislative district, and how farming significantly impacts the economy of this great state,” said Dean Norton, President of New York Farm Bureau