(WHITE TWP., NJ – March 13, 2024) – Asking residents to join in recognizing and appreciating the hard work of all who toil in farming, the Warren County Board of County Commissioners proclaimed March 19, 2024 as National Agriculture Day.

Representatives of Belvidere High School’s National FFA Organization chapter – President Sadie Wyckoff, Secretary Ashley Postma, Treasurer Olivia Franceschino, and faculty Advisor Matt Duckworth – received the proclamation, which notes that FFA (originally named Future Farmers of America) and agricultural education provide a strong foundation for the youth of America and the future of food, fiber, and natural resource systems.

“You all are the future of agriculture,” Commissioner Lori Ciesla told the students after reading the proclamation on behalf of the Commissioners. “We do a lot of work to preserve our farms in Warren County, and we want to make sure we have people to actually work on those farms,” she noted.

“It’s good to see agriculture so important in our community, and it’s good to see we have a future in agriculture,” Commissioner Jason J. Sarnoski said.

Commissioner Director James R. Kern III remarked that when Ciesla introduced the FFA members, “it’s not lost on me that these are the same names that continue to be farmers in Warren County for generations,” adding, “The family is so important in our farming community, it’s great to see that that tradition lives on in Warren County.”

Kern noted that funding for farmland preservation is one of the few tax increases that gets a public vote and has been supported consistently in Warren County.

Duckworth thanked the Commissioner for their support, adding, “We appreciate you taking the time to talk about agriculture.”