By Zack Zeigler
Farming has been a way of life, not only here in southwestern Pennsylvania, but across the country since the beginning of time. Farms provide the country with fresh produce, fresh meat, and other essential needs that we take for granted every day. As times changed and the country started to grow, farmers were looking for a voice in government to get the necessary funding they needed to continue to operate officially.
The Pennsylvania Farm Bureau was formed in 1950 to give farmers in the keystone state a chance for their voices to be heard. The Pennsylvania Farm Bureau has over 40,000 members statewide and 311 in Greene County. These farmers are looking for a way for their voices to be heard and that is the bureau’s top priority.
“The number one benefit of being a member of the Greene County Farm Bureau is having a voice in Harrisburg,” says Harley Gapen, a member of the bureau and owner of Harley and Janet Gapen Farms. “We are a grass roots organization and all of our policies are developed from the local level. We support both by-partisan and non-partisan views and farm legislation is our number one policy.”
There are several issues talked about at the local level but the biggest of those is the issue of property taxes; many farmers are trying to get the money they deserve for the oil and gas on their land. Harley says it is one issue that most farmers will need assistance to handle.
“Property tax is the #1 issue,” says Harley. “Taxing is an antiquated system where the land owner pays a disproportionate price. The minimum guarantee royalty in the state is 12%, but most land owners end up getting 6.7% of the royalties. Farmers are struggling to make those payments.”
Aside from having your voice heard, there are many different benefits from becoming a member of the Greene County Fam Bureau. Several discounts are offered, including travel discounts, accounting services, and farming service discounts. They also offer Nationwide insurance through the farming bureau to assist farmers who have difficulties paying for insurance.
The Bureau also works to give back to the community whenever it can as it strives to serve Greene County to the best of its abilities.
“We give money to several different charities including the food bank and local FSA [Farm Service Agency] Chapters,” Harley says. “We also sponsor a Safety Day and hold various agricultural events. Finally, we have a 500 dollar scholarship available to any bureau member’s child or grandchild where they have to write a short essay to be chosen.”
The Greene County Farm Bureau was selected to have the first women’s leadership committee in the state of Pennsylvania to give women a voice in agriculture. They will meet to discuss policies allowing women to have more power in the farming industry.
To become a member of the Greene County Farm Bureau, you can reach visit the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau website at www.pfb.com.