The Brockway Chapter of Young Farmers Association has recently been re-activated. This organization is a local
chapter of the Pennslyvania Young Farmers Association and are sponsored through the Brockway Area High School.
Pennsylvania Young Farmers is a group committed to education and promotion of environmentally appropriate production, marketing, and
processing of food, feed and fiber. Our adult education in agriculture program provides individual and group organized instruction
to agriculturists and consumer public in the local community. Specifically, the program is designed to assist those in production,
agriculture, and agribusiness to become successfully established or to improve their current agricultural status. Also, an educational
focus is to improve understanding and communication between the consumer public and the agricultural community regarding common concerns
and issues. Their slogan is "A Young Farmer is Any Farmer Willing to Learn".
At it's first meeting held
in January, the Brockway Chapter elected officers. Holly Plummer, who farms with her husband Kevin at Plum Hollow Dairy,
Reynoldsville, was elected president. Bill Smith, Smith Oak Farm, Reynoldsville, is the new vice-president. Suzy
Smith (Billīs wife) is secretary.
This new Chapter recently hosted the 2011 PA Young Farmer Winter Conference
in DuBois on February 8, 9 and 10. Over 125 members from across the state attended this three day event. This state
event included recognition of the achievements of outstanding members, attending educational seminars and touring local businesses.
Educational seminars were presented by: Gary Gilmore, PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources; Jamie Ulrich, PA
State Conservation Commission, and Beth Futrick, Pennsylvania Agricultural Ombudsman; and Michael Donovan, Land Manager, Business
Development, Seneca Resources.
Educational tours included visits to Bionol Clearfield LLC, the first commercial-scale ethanol
plant in Pennsylvania, having begun production in 2009. Attendees also visited the Brookville Glove Manufacturing Company, manufacturer
of gloves for 120 years; BWP, LLC, where they saw the process of making high quality hardwood professional bats, completely handmade;
Laurel Mount Vineyard; Plum Hollow Dairy and Smith Oak Farm, whose owners are officers with the new Brockway Young Farmer Chapters.
Women enjoyed visits to historic downtown Brookville, seat of Jefferson County; the Jefferson County History Center; and Heirloom
Quilting where they learned locker hooking.