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Agricultural Economic Development and Dairy Expansion
Focus of Tug Hill Commission Annual Dinner
Published: October 21, 2025
at 10:00 a.m.
By: Press Release
from NYS Tug Hill Commission
Agricultural Economic Development and Dairy Expansion
Focus of Tug Hill Commission Annual Dinner
Photo, left to right: Tug Hill Commission Chairperson
Gerry Ritter, Northeast Dairy Producers Association Executive Director
Allyson Jones-Brimmer, Chobani’s Vice President for
Government Affairs Max Finberg, NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets
Deputy Commissioner Katie Howard, Cornell PRO-DAIRY Program Director Tom
Overton, and Tug Hill Commission Executive Director Katie Malinowski.
WATERTOWN, NEW
YORK – Over 140 local, county, and state officials, as well as partners
from organizations across the Tug Hill region, attended the Tug Hill
Commission’s annual dinner on October 9 at the Delta Lake Inn near Rome.
The primary focus of the dinner was to learn more about agricultural
economic development and dairy expansion in upstate New York, in addition
to a year-in-review by the Tug Hill Commission. The commission was also
presented with a letter of appreciation from Governor Hochul for its work
with Tug Hill communities.
Katie Malinowski,
Tug Hill Commission Executive Director, commented that “Agriculture, and
particularly dairy, is a large part of the landscape and economy of rural
New York State, including Tug Hill. Bringing together industry experts with
Tug Hill communities creates an opportunity for learning and dialogue to
help support growth in farming and related jobs.”
New York State
Agriculture Deputy Commissioner Katie Howard said, “New York is home to a
world class dairy industry that serves as a crucial economic engine for our
state. Our dairy farmers and processors are second to none when it comes to
the care they give to the land and their animals and the quality of their
milk products. I thank the Tug Hill Commission for putting together this
opportunity for industry experts to share the value of their work with
their community members and leaders.”
According to
Allyson Jones-Brimmer, Executive Director of the Northeast Dairy Producers
Association, “The level of interest in economic development happening in
New York, particularly relating to dairy production, is truly incredible.
By working together with partners from throughout the industry, in local,
state and federal government and beyond, we can position our family dairy
farms to be successful as they work to support the processors who have
chosen New York as their home.”
“This growth and
investment in dairy processing is unprecedented in New York. We need to
make sure that our dairy farmers benefit in order to
take full economic advantage of these opportunities” added Tom Overton,
Program Director at Cornell PRO-DAIRY.
Max Finberg, Vice
President for Government Affairs at Chobani, LLC. said, “At Chobani, we’re
proud to call Upstate New York home and to be part of the state’s thriving
dairy ecosystem that drives growth and opportunity for so many. This
expansion is more than an investment in our future—it’s a commitment to
supporting local farmers, strengthening our communities, and advancing our
mission of bringing good food for all.”
Additionally, the
commission reported on many projects and activities over the past year.
With newly elected officers and a newly adopted strategic plan, the
commission continues to respond to local and regional needs through land
use assistance, grant applications, councils of government initiatives,
training, and regional efforts. The year-in-review presentation is
available on the commission’s website at tughill.org/.
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The New York
State Tug Hill Commission is a non-regulatory state agency charged with
helping local governments, organizations, and citizens shape the future of
the region, especially its environment and economy. The commission uses a
grassroots approach to build local capacity and provide technical
assistance in land use planning, community development, and natural
resource management.
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