New York Agri-Women Come Back to Area for Second-Annual Event

The New York Agri-Women are coming back to the area as the organization hosts its second annual event Friday and Saturday. The statewide affiliate of the American Agri-Women comes to the in Riverhead for the two-day conference.

Dubbed "Shared Challenges, United Goals," the event starts at 4 p.m. on Friday with breakouts into committees focusing on topics such as social media, consumer outreach, governance, and more. A legislative committee meeting follows, wrapping up with a cocktail hour and dinner and award reception to fill out the night.

Saturday is chalk-full with events, starting with remarks from NYAW founder Cari Rincker. A full list of the weekend's events can be found in an attachd .pdf document.

Last March, the as the organization started making inroads throughout the state. Roughly 50 local farmers attended the event.

Rincker said at the time that she hoped females in the industry on the North Fork and throughout Suffolk County can develop strong networking and support through the group. Strength in numbers also affects policy decisions, so all farmer - big, small, organic, or otherwise - can bond together through the organization.

In addition, she hopes NYAW can educate urban consumers about what it is they do out on the farm, and the value that has to them.

“It blows me away how little New Yorkers understand agriculture when they have such a diverse and rich agriculture industry so close to them,” Rinker said of New York City. “So my hope is that we’ll be able to reach out to both rural and urban consumers — I know that people want to feel connected to the food that they eat."