Sussex County beauty queens attend annual N.J. agricultural convention

Trenton - Two beauty contest winners from Sussex County, Larissa Byma of Wantage and Kelly Goodwin of Ogdensburg, were special guests at the delegates dinner held Feb. 7 during the annual N.J. State Agricultural Convention. The theme of the three-day convention was “Energizing Agriculture” to meet the needs of the future. The convention opened with presentations on emerging issues, aimed at guiding the delegates in developing policy. These deliberations will help influence the emerging federal Farm Bill discussion, as well as determine N.J. agriculture’s direction in 2006. Delegates also worked on a series of resolutions, each addressing a component of the Agricultural Development Initiative, a multi-faceted program being developed by the N.J. Dept. of Agriculture to address the high costs of operating an agricultural business in the state. The delegates dinner attended by Byma and Goodwin also featured the presentation of distinguished service awards, as well as an award to the “outstanding young farmer for 2006.” The convention is the largest annual gathering of the agricultural industry. More than 100 representatives of county agriculture boards, Pomona granges and breed and commodity organizations gathered to discuss issues affecting the state’s agricultural industry and help set agricultural policy for the coming year. Delegates also elected three new members to the State Board of Agriculture, the policy-making body of the N.J. Dept. of Agriculture.