Honor Farm's Eco Award

Senate Resolution No. 661 BY: Senator METZGER COMMENDING Thunder View Farms upon the occasion of its designation as recipient of the 2018 Environmental Stewardship Award Program by the National Cattlemen's Beef Association WHEREAS, The agricultural industry is part of the foundation upon which our distinct American heritage is built; and WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize those individuals and businesses within the great State of New York that are dedicated to the vital work of environmental protection; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend Thunder View Farms upon the occasion of its designation as recipient of the 2018 Environmental Stewardship Award Program by the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, celebrated at the 2019 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show in New Orleans; and WHEREAS, The Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP) was established in 1991, to recognize outstanding land stewards in the cattle industry; Thunder View Farms received this auspicious award for leading by example and serving as inspiration for producers everywhere; and WHEREAS, Thunder View Farms originated in 1958, when Phil Coombe brought five registered Angus cows to his farm; he was soon joined by his brother, Dick, and they have been running the operation together ever since; and WHEREAS, Today, Thunder View Farms has more than 200 seedstock cows on 1,500 acres in Grahamsville, New York, 100 miles north of New York City; it sits between two of the state's biggest reservoirs, supplying drinking water to nine million people in the city; and WHEREAS, In the 1990s, New York City proposed tough watershed regulations which would have driven most farmers out of business, but the Coombe family, along with other families in the area, convinced officials that a way to keep land and water in pristine condition was to keep the land and forests in well managed farms; and WHEREAS, As part of this effort, Thunder View Farms installed a gravity flow system to deliver clean water to all its pastures and to fence cattle out of the streams; and WHEREAS, The Coombe family also developed an approach to avoid nutrient and sediment runoff by installing heavy feeding pads which are placed more than 1,000 feet away from any streams to protect surface water; and WHEREAS, Additionally, silage bags are utilized to feed the cattle, providing a healthier environment for the cattle while reducing feed waste and workload; and WHEREAS, To supplement their electrical needs, the Coombe family built a wind turbine and installed solar panels; these systems provide enough electricity to operate the farm shop and their freezer beef business; and WHEREAS, Furthermore, selling their quality beef to consumers allows Thunder View Farms to share its conservation story with the public; and WHEREAS, Over the years, Thunder View Farms has truly gone above and beyond to protect local land from development, preserving it for generations to come; and WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body that the continuing welfare of the citizens of the State of New York is greatly enriched and reliably served by the purposeful endeavors of businesses and individuals who are committed to the preservation of our natural environment and the enhancement of the appreciation of the distinctive features of our surroundings, and to the economic well-being of the areas in which they exist; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to commend Thunder View Farms upon the occasion of its designation as recipient of the 2018 Environmental Stewardship Award Program by the National Cattlemen's Beef Association; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to Thunder View Farms, Grahamsville, New York.