One year ago this month, I packed my car, said goodbye to my family and farm and made the nearly five hour trip from Linesville to Harrisburg to begin a new journey as PA’s 25th Sec. of Ag. I saw many friends and met a lot of other producers at the first two events I attended, the Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Grower’s Convention and the PA Dairy Summit. Armed with new info, my message to state legislators was still the same one I’ve been carrying with me as an ag advocate on the local, state and federal levels for years – seeking support to empower producers and agribusinesses to ensure ag remains at the heart of our economy. Now, I’m taking the same message to Washington, D.C. Last week, I met with members of PA’s congressional delegation to discuss a number of issues, from the federal farm bill to flood relief. Each leader I met with was eager to hear the messages I was carrying from our farmers. And they are even more eager to hear from you, their constituents. It can be tough to wrap your head around a huge piece of federal policy like the farm bill or intimidating to reach out to an elected official. Whether you’re more comfortable partnering with an organization that supports your interests or ready to start the conversation on your own, know whatever step you take will be an important one toward keeping our industry viable.

Growers from across the mid-Atlantic region will travel to Hershey next week for the annual Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Convention, one of the premier grower meetings in the northeast. Sec. Greig will join growers at a reception and banquet on Tuesday, while Dep. Jay Howes will join apple growers at their reception Wednesday evening.

Drew An Brubaker of Lancaster, Lancaster Co., competed against 57 county and community fair queens and was crowned the 2012 PA Fair Queen. The 17-year-old Lampeter-Strasburg senior is joined by first runner-up Amanda Mitcheltree of New Castle, Lawrence Co. Aimee Beth Gillispie, of the Jacktown Fair in Greene Co., was voted “Miss Congeniality,” by the other contestants during the two-day contest.

PA Dairy Leadership Council members have been meeting in work groups to tackle some of the issues facing dairy producers. The groups are focusing on producer and next generation education, regulatory structure, marketing strategies, and economic development, finance and infrastructure. The members will present their findings when the council reconvenes.

Beef bulls on test at PDA’s Livestock Evaluation Center near Rock Springs, Centre Co., were weighed at the 84-day mark of the 112-day test that annually evaluates bulls consigned by producers from across PA and from neighboring states. The bulls will sell March 30, during the 2012 PA Beef Expo. The center helps producers identify high-quality, faster growing stock to continue improving the quality of meat animals produced in PA.

PA producers farm 7.75 million acres of farmland, with an average farm size of 123 acres. Each farmer produces food and fiber for 155 people in PA and beyond.