Extension annual meeting to celebrate agriculture and more

DOVER-FOXCROFT — On Friday, Oct. 30, the Piscataquis County UMaine Extension Association will hold its annual meeting and dinner to celebrate the many accomplishments of UMaine Extension in the county. The event will begin with a farm to table meal catered by Spruce Mill Farm and Kitchen at the Dover Foxcroft Congregational Church on West Main Street.

“Many people don’t realize that every citizen of the county is actually a member of the association,” noted Walter Boomsma, president. “This is our opportunity to come together to celebrate and support the many accomplishments made possible by Extension resources and programming.”

The agenda for the evening promises to be fast-paced and entertaining. Extension Educator Donna Coffin looks forward to the annual event for a number of reasons, including the opportunity to see old friends and make new ones. “The meeting truly goes beyond farming and gardening,” she said. “Our 4-H programs are diverse and of course include a number of youth from the area. So in the larger sense, we are celebrating rural living.”

Boomsma notes that every county in Maine has an executive committee — volunteers who are responsible for securing county funds and support. In collaboration with staff, the committee serves both as resource and monitor to ensure programming is relevant to local needs and opportunities.

For a more global look at the state of agriculture, the group has invited John Piotti, president and CEO of Maine Farmland Trust, to serve as featured speaker. Piotti has been at the forefront of agricultural issues in Maine for 20 years. He is the past chair of the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Working Group (NESAWG) and a past director of the National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture. Piotti has also served in Maine’s State Legislature, where he chaired the agriculture committee and later served as house majority leader. He was named by Maine Magazine as one of the 50 people who have done the most for the state.

There is no charge to attend the program beginning at 7 p.m. Tickets for the farm to table dinner at 6 p.m. are available at the Piscataquis Extension Office. Pre-registration before Oct. 23 guarantees a meal. If available, tickets will be at the door. For additional information, contact the office at 564-3301.