AGvocate Program

The AGvocate Program, funded by CT Department of Agriculture Farm Viability Grants, began in early 2009. Guided by a Steering Committee, the AGvocate Program provides Northeast Connecticut Towns technical assistance to initiate Agriculture Commissions; review and implement tax reduction options; plan for farmland protection, encourage buy local opportunities, explore methods to promote local farms; include agriculture in town plans; and pass right-to-farm ordinances.

Contact:
Jennifer Kaufman
AGvocate
Eastern CT RC&D
139 Wolf Den Road
Brooklyn, CT 06234
AGvocate@yahoo.com
860-450-6007

Since its inception, fourteen towns in Northeastern Connecticut have been working with the AGvocate Program. AGvocate Towns include: Ashford, Bozrah, Brooklyn, Canterbury, Eastford, Franklin, Hampton, Killingly, Pomfret, Sterling, Thompson, Scotland, Windham, and Woodstock.

Read the Report on Phase I.
News: Agriculture Commissioner Reviczky Announces Pilot Program for Community Farms Preservation: $2,000,000 allocated for cooperative state-municipal farmland preservation projects

Municipalities interested in participating in the AGvocate Program should contact Jennifer Kaufman at AGvocate@yahoo.com or 860-450-6007, for more information.

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Many thanks to the Connecticut Department of Agriculture for their support of this program.

AGvocate Steering Committee: Ben Bowell, New England Field Rep, American Farmland Trust •Lois Bruinooge, Deputy Executive Director, The Last Green Valley, Inc. (TLGV) • David Fuss, Town of Brooklyn Planning and Zoning Commission •John Guszkowski, President, Eastern CT RC&D • Rick Hermonot, Ekonk Hill Turkey Farm, & Farm and Business Consultant, First Pioneer Credit • Jennifer Kaufman, AGvocate (Staff) • Kevin Kennedy, Director of Planning, Town of Thompson • Joyce Meader, Dairy /Livestock Educator, UConn Cooperative Extension • Dawn Pindell, Executive Director, Windham County Farm Service Agency • Norma O’Leary, Chair, TLGV Natural Resources & Agriculture Committee