The Chester Agricultural Commission For Agriculture and the

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The Chester Agricultural Commission For Agriculture and the Community

The Chester Agricultural Commission For Agriculture and the Community

What is an Agricultural commission? Photo by NHDTTD/Cecilia Howard Municipal committee Volunteers who care

What is an Agricultural commission? Photo by NHDTTD/Cecilia Howard Municipal committee Volunteers who care about agriculture in their town Forum for balancing rural character and growth

What is the Role of an Agricultural Commission? Advises town boards Focuses public attention

What is the Role of an Agricultural Commission? Advises town boards Focuses public attention on multiple values of agriculture Non-regulatory Does what the town needs to support agriculture

Typical activities of an Agricultural Commission – – – – Conduct inventories Cost of

Typical activities of an Agricultural Commission – – – – Conduct inventories Cost of community services studies Public education Farmland protection Encouraging farm enterprises Starting farmers’ markets Hosting farm festivals and tours

The Chester Agricultural Committee Before an Agricultural Commission could be established, a committee was

The Chester Agricultural Committee Before an Agricultural Commission could be established, a committee was formed to present a warrant article to the voters of Chester. Photo by NHDTTD/George Kelly

What has the Agricultural Committee done so far? Photo by NHDTTD/Jeff Newcomer Reached out

What has the Agricultural Committee done so far? Photo by NHDTTD/Jeff Newcomer Reached out to all the farmers in Chester Inventory of all the farms in Chester Held an exploratory and informational meeting Formed an Agricultural Steering Committee with officers Met townspeople at Chester Town Fair Created a mission statement

Mission Statement The Mission of the Chester Agricultural Committee is: To represent Chester farms

Mission Statement The Mission of the Chester Agricultural Committee is: To represent Chester farms and to advise the Chester Town regulatory bodies on agricultural matters. To facilitate communication among farmers, to educate the community in agriculture, and to promote the business of farming and farm activities in Chester. To promote and to help preserve the farms, agricultural lands, and rural character of Chester.

Warrant Article To see if the Town will vote to establish an Agricultural Commission

Warrant Article To see if the Town will vote to establish an Agricultural Commission (by definition nonregulatory) pursuant to RSA 674: 44 -e. The Mission is as follows: To represent Chester farms and to advise the Chester Town regulatory bodies on agricultural matters. To facilitate communication among farmers, to educate the community in agriculture, and to promote the business of farming and farm activities in Chester. To promote and to help preserve the farms, agricultural lands, and rural character of Chester.

Thank you This information was modified from a presentation published in February 2007 by

Thank you This information was modified from a presentation published in February 2007 by the UNH Cooperative Extension in cooperation with the NH Coalition for Sustaining Agriculture, with funding from the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program of the US Department of Agriculture. For additional information, please visit the UNH Cooperative Extension website: http: //extension. unh. edu/Agric/Ag. Comm/NHAGCom. htm