Breezy Hill Dairy honored with award

Wyoming County 2019 Pride of Agriculture Good Neighbors: Breezy Hill Dairy

The 6^th generation Breezy Hill Dairy was started by Nicholas and Mary Catherine in 1870.  Today, Bruce and Donna, Roger and Debbie of the 5^thgeneration and Brad and Carolyn of the 6^th generation operate the farm.  Saturday night March 2^nd, they were honored for their excellent farming practices that protect the land and respect the livestock they care for, and also the contributions they make to the Wyoming County, Sheldon and the farming community. They are good neighbors!  Cornell Cooperative Extension of Wyoming County and Wyoming County Farm Bureau recognized the Almeters along with 320 guests at the Wyoming County Pride of Agriculture Dinner at the North Java Fire Hall.

Bruce and Donna contribute countless hours of their time to youth as leaders of the 4-H Club, “A Little Bit of Everything”.  Donna has been a leader of leaders holding officer positions with the Wyoming County 4-H Leaders’ Association. She continues to help organize the 4-H Cookie Sale.  Donna serves the Town of Sheldon as their tax collector.

Roger and Debbie are quick to offer to host activities at the farm and have even built out their garage into a space to host family and community events.  Debbie has served as a 4-H Leader too.  She is also involved in the Ladies Auxiliary for the fire company.  Roger served on the Sheldon Town Board.  He also served on the Niagara Milk Cooperative Board since 2004 and continues to serve on the Upstate Niagara Milk Producers Cooperative Board today.

 

 

Brad and Carolyn have served in leadership roles for Wyoming County Farm Bureau.  Brad as an officer and Carolyn as the Promotion and Education Chair.  Brad was a director for the Western New York Crop Management Association for six years. Brad has also been a representative to Upstate Niagara’s Young Cooperator Program.  Carolyn was part of the leadership team for Agri-Palooza for several years.  Most recently, Brad has been involved in the Partners for Agriculture group that successfully led efforts to reestablish an agriculture program at Attica Central School.

When it comes to teaching children and the community about agriculture, the Almeters have stepped up and opened their doors to allow people to experience dairy farming today.  For many years, they have hosted pre-school children from East Aurora for and on-farm experience.  From 2012 to 2015, they organized an event to help 300 sixth graders to learn about careers in agriculture.  By hosting a-day-on-the-farm with organized stations featuring local agriculture businesses and agencies, the Almeters were able to show these emerging youth the opportunities for a future in agriculture.  In 2014, the Almeter Family hosted Wyoming County Agri-Palooza.  These activities require all hands on the farm to help prepare.

This farm team along with their employees provide each other with backstopping to allow all of them to take on leadership roles in the community, developing youth and guiding agricultural organizations.  Wyoming County salutes the Almeter Family for their involvement in the community and industry and willingness to share their farm to help young people learn about the possibilities that abound in agriculture in Wyoming County.  The Almeter Family, Wyoming County’s 2019 Agricultural Good Neighbors represent the kind of folks who make Wyoming County agriculture great!