Randolph FFA members tell legislators how they are rebranding local agriculture

By RICK MILLER

Olean Star

LITTLE VALLEY — Members of the Randolph Future Farmers of America (FFA) made a presentation to

Cattaraugus County lawmakers Wednesday on local efforts to rebrand agriculture in the digital age.

The presentation came on the annual Farm Bureau Day for county legislators including sampling local foods.

The group is advocating for more schools to teach agriculture and offer an FFA organization.

A rebranding is needed because of the way agriculture is often viewed in schools, one Randolph senior, Taylor. An elective subject, agriculture often has a traditional image with limited career awareness and an outdated curriculum, she said.

The benefits of the group include scholarships, field trips, career pathways, degrees, awards, competition and hands-on learning. The FFA organization helps students understand the importance of agriculture and can be a positive representation of the agriculture community. They call that “Agvocay.”

Cattaraugus County Farm Bureau President Michael Telaak of Telaak Farms in Mansfield, thanked legislators for the opportunity to spotlight local agriculture and urged them to consult with Farm Bureau if they come across any agriculture-related issues.

For the second meeting in a row, county lawmakers addressed the issue of striking corrections officers at Collins Correctional Facility north of Gowanda. Many Cattaraugus County residents were among the corrections officers at Collins participating in a wildcat strike over working conditions. Some of them are also among some of those who didn’t return as ordered on Tuesday morning and were fired by Gov. Kathy Hochul.

More than 2,000 corrections officers who ignored the latest return to work order were fired by the governor. It’s not clear how many of those officers from Collins were among those fired. A large contingent of people remained at strike headquarters on Route 62 across from the prison at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.

County Legislature Chairman Andrew Burrr, R-Gowanda, who represents a large number of corrections workers, and Legislator Ginger Schroder, R-Farmersville, chairman of the Labor Relations Committee, were co-sponsors of the resolution introduced for immediate consideration. All legislators ended up as cosponsors.

Their resolution condemns Hochul for firing the striking corrections officers. One of their grievances was there there were too few corrections officers.

“The immediate termination of over 2,000 officers in a correctional system that is already immensely understaffed is unconscionable, especially at a time when recruitment of qualified personnel has proven to be an impossible task,” the resolution states.

“The Cattaraugus County Legislature hereby vehemently condemns Gov. Hochul and Commissioner Martuscello for their lack of compassion and reasoning needed to make changes that will go far enough to truly restore order and safety to our correctional facilities,” the resolution added.

Before the vote, Burr said the governor had “blackballed 2,000 corrections officers in a system that’s already grossly understaffed.” He called it “retaliation for their strike protesting the egregious working conditions.”

Legislators were also unanimous in their support for the $25 million state Department of Transportation RAISE grant to reconstruct West State Street in Olean. The goal is to rebuild 100-plus year-old infrastructure beneath the street from Olean’s North Union Street to the town of Allegany and St. Bonaventure University.

Another resolution authorizes the transfer of two Olean properties on the tax foreclosure list to the Cattaraugus County land Bank. They are at 623 Seneca Ave., and 517 E. Connell St.

County legislators also voted to use American Rescue Plan funding received for pandemic relief in 2021 for a variety of projects including:

$178,446 for the County Center elevator.
$222,895 for the Great Lakes Cheese Co. factory in Franklinville.
$117,704 for the program administrator.
$81,480 for County Center improvements.

Much of the county’s ARP funding went to fund sewer and water lines from the Village of Franklinville to the new $800 million cheese plant on Route 16.

In another resolution for immediate consideration, the positions of full-time deputy director in the Probation Department and a full-time probation assistant were abolished.

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