Ag Board approves 2026 4‑H sponsorship and several marketing allocations

The Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board approved a $1,400 allocation for a Cornell Cooperative Extension 4‑H "The Collaborator" sponsorship and authorized multiple advertising expenditures to promote local farms.

M. Ullrich, speaking about Cooperative Extension opportunities, said the "The Collaborator" level "normally costs $1600" but was available to the board at a reduced $1,500; the board agreed to fund $1,400 with a breakdown of $500 for the horse program, $300 for livestock, $200 for dog judging and $400 for dairy. The motion to allocate $1,400 for the sponsorship was moved by P. Ewanciw, seconded by D. Smith and approved unanimously.

Board members then discussed marketing ideas to promote farms and farmers markets, including videos, printed rack cards, stickers and online ads. S. Soons noted that "it would cost $310 for 1,000 stickers" as one low-cost outreach option. The board approved a set of motions allocating up to $2,000 for META ads, up to $2,000 for Google Ads, up to $1,200 for a summer Explore H.V. placement and up to $400 for rack cards; each motion passed unanimously.

K. Apostolides, the OC Farm Market Coordinator, and S. Soons were assigned to coordinate ad content and placement. The board did not approve hiring staff or a contractor at this meeting, but members discussed the possibility of an intern or contractor to help with PDR applications, noting any work must avoid creating a competing entity to the Orange County Land Trust (OCLT).

The allocations put the board's near-term promotional spend at up to $5,600 across the approved items, in addition to the $1,400 4‑H sponsorship.