In this episode of News Bytes, we visit Goderie’s Tree Farm in Johnstown, NY, to sit down with Pete Goderie, a third-generation farmer whose family has been growing Christmas trees for more than 50 years. Pete shares expert tips on choosing, caring for, and responsibly disposing of your Christmas tree, plus the work that goes into growing and maintaining his trees. He also discusses how the farm has diversified over the years — and how he cut his workers’ comp insurance costs in half by joining NYFB’s Safety Group 486.

In this episode of News Bytes, we sit down with Tom Denman, Associate Director of Membership Development and Engagement at New York Farm Bureau, to talk about how county annual meetings keep Farm Bureau’s grassroots spirit alive.

Tom shares what makes these local gatherings so important — from raising resolutions and discussing hot topics like solar and ag exemptions, to building connections among farmers, agribusiness leaders, and community partners. He also explains how every Farm Bureau member, whether farmer or food advocate, plays a vital role in shaping the policies that impact agriculture across the state.

In this episode of News Bytes, we sit down with Maureen Ballatori, Founder & CEO of Agency 29, at New York Kitchen in Canandaigua, NY. Maureen shares how her farm roots shaped her passion for agriculture and how her creative agency helps food, beverage, and ag brands succeed.

She also gives us a sneak peek into her keynote at the NYFB State Annual Convention, where she will address the opportunities and challenges of artificial intelligence in agriculture – and how farmers can approach new technology as a helpful tool rather than something to fear.