By Matt Sheffer, NEAFA Treasurer
As my time as Treasurer begins, I want to thank those who came before me and have helped get me up to speed. I have large shoes to fill, Barry Baetz was a board member for 15 years and Treasurer for 8. Over those years our financial statements stayed strong through both steady and volatile times and Barry’s stewardship of our investment accounts have given us important dividends, the most important being financial freedom. For years, Rick Zimmerman and Sue Van Amburgh have guided us and executed the day to day needs of the alliance and Sue continues to do so today and into the future!
While I am new serving you as a member of the alliance and fiduciary of our funds, my philosophy will be one of familiarity. Our operation of the alliance is self-sustained, we will continue to work closely with our Membership Committee and the Board to budget membership and registration dues each year to cover the operation and activities of the organization. I believe it to be paramount to keep our self-sustainment alive by keeping costs in check as well as growing our top line via membership, registrations, and sustaining sponsorships. Our additional funds allow us to be there when there is an industry need, a specific project, or charitable cause which benefits our membership and agriculture industry.
Agriculture is an industry rich in traditions, and NEAFA has become a traditional organization in the Northeast Agribusiness market, with events that are a part of people’s schedules. The NEAFA Annual Meeting was moved back to February in Albany intentionally to reestablish that tradition, as is our attendance and participation at the Herd Health & Nutrition Conference. Our Annual Golf Tournament is extremely well attended and a staple on calendars. Please register for the Golf for Good Works Tournament August 19-20 at Turning Stone.
It is an honor to serve you and the organization, and I look forward to meeting our growing membership and new members. Professionally I lead Cargill’s Dairy Feed & Nutrition business in New York State. I first joined Cargill in 2014 as an intern and full time after college graduation as a member of their rotational management program. I have had various roles in many locations but have been happy to be back in New York connected with our New York dairy and Northeast agriculture industry. Personally, I grew up in the Finger Lakes with great mentors and family members that have worked in agriculture before me. My uncle’s Mark and Rob Sheffer worked in production agriculture and agribusiness respectively, my sister Kirsten lives outside of Skaneateles and works for the USDA in Cayuga County, and my cousin Eric still operates “the home farm” Sheffer’s Grassland Dairy in Hoosick Falls NY. I now live in Eastern NY and am excited for my upcoming wedding in October this year.