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Two area students, including one from Haverhill, are the newest members of the Massachusetts Agricultural Youth Council.
Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources Commissioner Ashley Randle on Tuesday announced Ray Budd of Haverhill and Natalee Peña of Amesbury, both attending Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical High School, as members of the Agricultural Youth Council, which is now in its second year. They are among 15 high school students to serve on the Council. The group will meet monthly to discuss agricultural issues, hear from guest speakers from the agricultural industry, learn about the legislative process and workforce development opportunities, attend special events and tours and enhance their professional skills.
“While there are always challenges in farming and agriculture, I’m optimistic that our future looks bright with the amount of interest we’ve seen in our students who share the same values we all have in making sure we continue to grow and nurture a rich and diverse industry. Through our farmland protection programs, we’ll make sure that when the next generation of farmers take their place in shaping the agricultural landscape, they will have access to farmland here in Massachusetts so they can make their mark,” said Randle.
The appointments came as Gov. Maura T. Healey declared Tuesday as Massachusetts Agriculture Day—called “a celebration of the hardworking farmers, growers and agricultural groups who are vital to the state.”
Randle also declared 2025 as the Year of Youth in Agriculture, emphasizing the importance of involving young people in farming as the current farming population ages. The declaration will provide opportunities to spotlight and elevate young adult voices in agriculture by leveraging resources, including events and partnerships with organizations like 4-H and Future Farmers of America to inspire the next generation of agricultural leaders.
The administration used the occasion to announce $5 million to permanently protect nearly 400 acres of farmland across eight farms through the state’s innovative Agricultural Preservation Restriction program. Additionally, more than $500,000 will help existing Massachusetts APR farmers restore land that was previously unsuitable for farming.