Bardwell Farm
  • 49 Main
    • FAQ
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact
  • Wholesale
    • Produce Weekly+
  • Employment

Homegrown News Blog

SINCE 1685

We made the farm tour!

8/24/2017

1 Comment

 
This week, U.S. Representative Jim McGovern hosted the 7th Annual Agricultural Tour to meet with farmers, agricultural producers, non-profit farming organizations and community development corporations in Central and Western Massachusetts to highlight the success of our region’s agricultural industry, its role in growing the local economy and addressing issues in farming. 

I am so thankful Bardwell Farm was chosen as one of the stops on the tour. It was amazing really, the congressman spoke directly to me, listened to my story and the battles that beginner farmers go through on a daily basis. Even though I was blessed with land and equipment, farmers who are just starting out struggle to purchase and maintain those things. Also, if you take into consideration how young farmers have to somehow break into wholesale and retail markets, it's really-really tough. My hope was to bring some kind of awareness to all of this. We farmers have to stick together, we are a dying breed.
Picture
The tour started with a brief introduction and a surprise. What I thought was going to be the congressman and a couple of staff turned into 20, including folks from the USDA, CISA, NRCS, support staff, local businesses and farmers, and several media organizations. I talked about the history of Bardwell Farm, what inspired me to go into farming and why I love it so much.
Shaking hands with CISA Director Philip Korman
Meeting U.S. Representative Jim McGovern
Talking about the history of Bardwell Farm
Support staff listening and eager to help
Congressman McGovern talking about agriculture and the tour
Officials and local organizations listening to my story
Talking about my passion for farming
Congressman McGovern listening about the struggles for young farmers
After we walked one of our fields and I explained why we like to grow smaller settings of a variety of fruits and vegetables instead of just one really large crop. I also talked about the importance of timing settings so our farmstand stays stocked all season with plenty of product.

We moved onto education and farming, collaboration between farmers, farmers helping farmers, and marketing with social media and competing in the digital marketplace.

I expressed the desire to expand my operation and the congressman and his staff brought many ideas to the table including grants to help with solar energy, greenhouses and the possibility of opening a farm store.
Beginning the walk to the back field
Congressman McGovern meets Farmhand Kaitlyn
The group taking it all in as we head out
Walking past several settings on out to the sweet corn
Explaining settings and timing for season 2017
Pointing out the last settings of the season
Here comes TV22
Kaitlyn providing transportation for TV22 News Tashanea Whitlow and cameraman
Congressman McGovern giving an interview about agriculture
I'm not used to all these cameras and reporters
Giving an interview for the newspaper
Tashanea Whitlow of TV22 News asking me about education and farming
The tour ended at the farmstand so we could show our finished product and hard work. We took a group photo and almost everyone purchased something. It was kind of funny, our regular customers were there too and wondered what was going on, it was awesome and I enjoyed every minute of it! ​
I want to thank U.S. Representative Jim McGovern for including Bardwell Farm in the tour. I also want to thank the congressman, his staff, the agencies and all the other folks who genuinely listened to everything I had to say and providing new ideas that would improve my operation.

All-in-all it was such an amazing experience and I am very thankful and proud.
Talking about growing, harvesting and selling fresh product
Congressman McGovern talking about grants helping small farms
A group photo with the congressman and crew
Congressman McGovern picking out some snack for later
More of the crew picking up goods
One last snack before everyone hits the road
A heartfelt thank you to my grandfather and mentor Cory Bardwell for teaching me to farm. I wish you were here today to see all of this.

A huge thank you to all the farms who help me everyday, especially you Tony, your guidance and friendship is important to me.

Thanks to Rick at Rocket Strategies for pushing me, creating a solid marketing plan and making me look good on the interwebs everyday... you're crazy.

A special thank you to farmhand Kaitlyn for your friendship, support, hard work and always making everything just so. The stand looked beautiful today (all the while battling a bee sting). Farmers til' the end!

Related:
  • McGovern Hosts 7th Annual Mass. Farm Tour - Press Release
  • Congressman discusses agriculture with completion of farm tour - WWLP22
  • McGovern touts healthy food for food stamp recipients - GazetteNET.com
  • McGovern tours Franklin County farms - The Recorder


For more Homegrown News subscribe to my newsletter!
​

Like or Tweet this article to a friend by clicking the badges below. Thank you for your support.
1 Comment
Karen
9/27/2017 07:44:26 pm

You are a rockstar Harry! I cannot believe what you accomplish every day. My gosh! Who knew you would have been this successful. Hard work, I am blown away by your commitment and i burst with pride. You are awesome. Love you!

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.


    About

    ​Follow Bardwell Farm and all of our adventures here!


    Archives

    February 2023
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    December 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017


    Categories

    All
    5 Reasons
    Announcements
    Did You Know
    Education
    Gardening
    General
    Harry's Farm VLOG
    Kitchen
    Partnerships
    Recipes
    Tech
    Week In Pictures
    Who Knew?
    Wisdom
    Year In Review


    Gift Cards

    Give the gift of a CSA farm share or farmstand goods with gift certificate from Bardwell Farm!

    PURCHASE

    Newsletter

    Subscribe to Harry's Farmstand Monthly newsletter! 

    SUBSCRIBE


    RSS Feed

#BARDWELLFARM

LIKE & SHARE

DIRECTIONS

GOOGLE MAPS

SITE MAP

49 MAIN
GIFT CARDS
HOMEGROWN NEWS
ABOUT
CONTACT
​
NEWSLETTER
WHOLESALE
EMPLOYMENT
​FAQ
SEARCH

STAY CONNECTED

Picture
Picture
Picture

©2022 BARDWELL FARM, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
POWERED BY ROCKET
  • 49 Main
    • FAQ
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact
  • Wholesale
    • Produce Weekly+
  • Employment