Pictured: Mark Humbert, Senator Pam Helming, Jacob Flowers, Ethan Humbert, Steve Olson, Assemblyman Brian Manktelow, District Manager Lindsey Gerstenslager and Conservation Field Manager of Wayne County AEM programs, Ron Thorn

2019 Wayne County Soil and Water Conservation District’s Conservation Farm of the Year has been awarded to Humbert Farms because of their dedication and commitment to protect and conserve the natural resources within our community through the New York State Agricultural Environmental Management Program.

The family-run farm is located in the Town of Rose on Lakes Corners -Rose Valley consisting of 3400 acres of owned/rented property with the majority of the commodity in field crops.

The Humbert family, Mark, and son Ethan have participated in the implementation of several farm management projects to keep their farm on the forefront of conservation; working with neighboring farms to carry out crop rotation, crop cover, manure sharing, natural resource sharing, irrigation, and best management practices implementation. The farm utilizes minimal tillage conservation systems, green fertilization techniques, conservation crop cover for year-round protection of soil erosion and is consistently working to minimize their impact on central Erie Canal system and Greater Sodus Bay. These BMPs limit damage to the aquatic life and protect recreational uses of streams and waterways they flow into, providing community sustainability for the future.

The Humbert family has worked to update their Certified Nutrient Management Plan in an effort to help guide the farm for management of rotation of crops, effective manure application for crop production and management of other natural resources. They work in partnership with the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service, USDA Farm Service Agency and the Wayne County Soil and Water Conservation District to further the benefits of land stewardship and conservation implementation, by managing their farm and providing a higher quality commodity while looking out for the health of the environment.

“The Humbert family exemplifies what good agricultural environmental management is to Wayne County and New York State, by their continued efforts to participate, demonstrate and educate local area farmers community members and leadership, says Lindsey Gertenslager, District Manager Wayne County Soil and Water Conservation District. “They continue to inspire all agricultural entities with a ‘Can-Do’ attitude, which leads to new opportunities for everyone.

LYONS NY- Patricia (Pat) VanLare of Sodus N.Y, has been awarded the 2019 Wayne County Agricultural Environmental Steward award. The award was created at a grassroots level to recognize individuals that strengthen the Wayne County agriculture community while looking out for environmental sustainability. An agricultural steward is someone who is dedicated to being agriculturally minded, environmental and conversationally sound and having the balance for them both economically.

Pat VanLare has supported agriculture through her personal work, serving as a community advocate for local and sustainable family traditions and local environmental related issues in Wayne County. She supports local programs that educate people where what and how food reaches farm to table, NYS Envirothon and Sodus Central Schools as a home economics instructor. She has been an active participant in the Wayne County Pomona Grange, serving at the State and Regional Grange levels and a Board Member of the NYS Grange Museum for many years. Pat serves on the Wayne County Soil and Water Conservation District’s Board of Directors as Vice-President and sits on the Wayne County’s County Fair Advisory Board as a volunteer coordinator.

Pat’s continued effort helps to improve Wayne County’s ties to agriculture and the importance of family, local traditions, history and agricultural advocacy for food production, land stewardship and environmental issues. Her working knowledge of several agricultural organizations such as Farm Bureau, Grange, Soil and Water, and USDA help provide information to the local communities to help them address advocacy on a consistent and uniformed message.

“I have worked on the District Board of Directors with Pat and cannot think of a better recipient to receive this honor,” said Huron Town Supervisor Laurie Crane who was recently the recipient of the New York State Senate Helming’s Woman of Distinction award.

We honor Pat as the 2019 Wayne County Agriculture Environmental Stewardship recipient because of her dedication and continue the passion for leading the Wayne County Agricultural Community into the future. Thank you, Pat, congratulations!