The NYS Forum Albany ITCR Meeting - April 2021

Guest Presenter:

Commissioner Richard Ball - New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets

Click here to register In-Person (Cap limit of 10 attendees)

Click here to register for Webex

NOTE: IF YOU ARE A NEW USER TO THE NYS FORUM YOU MUST COMPLETE SUBMIT A NEW ACCOUNT PROFILE FORM BEFORE REGISTERING BY CLICKING HERE

Richard Ball, Commissioner - NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets

On January 9, 2014, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced the nomination of Richard A. Ball as Commissioner of the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.

A native New Yorker, Mr. Ball has made a living in agriculture his entire life. His inspiration to become a farmer came from his grandparents, who were lifelong dairy farmers. At 18 years old, Mr. Ball began his own career in agriculture as a farm worker on a vegetable farm. He later became operations manager of that same farm.   After 20 years there, in 1993 the opportunity arose to be a farm owner and for the past 27 years, he has been the owner and operator of Schoharie Valley Farms in Schoharie, NY, which consists of 200 acres and produces a wide range of vegetable crops, small fruits and greenhouse crops. The farm serves both retail and wholesale consumers through an onsite farm market and ships to brokers and restaurants in the local area as well as New York City.

Richard has held a number of positions within agriculture and community organizations at the local, state and national level, including the New York State Vegetable Growers Association, the New York Farm Bureau, the American Farm Bureau and the Schoharie County Chamber of Commerce. 

He currently serves as Vice President on the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) Board of Directors.  He is also the President of Food Export Northeast.

Richard along with his wife, Shirley, reside on the farm in Schoharie and appreciate having three generations engaged in the farm operation.

WHAT TO EXPECT FOR NYS FORUM IN-PERSON EVENTS 

COVID-19 POLICY:

Entering the building:

You may park in the front or back of building, but you must enter through street facing entranceway only.  You may exit through this doorway as well.

All attendees must be wearing face coverings at all times while inside the building.  Upon entering you will be instructed to wait behind the yellow lines marked 6 feet apart on the floor as we screen each attendee with the following questions.  We ask that you answer them honestly and to the best of your knowledge to help NYS Forum prevent the spread of COVID-19:

1. Have you had any known close contact with a person confirmed or suspected to have COVID-19 in the past 14 days? 
2. Are you currently experiencing ANY of the following symptoms? Cough (new or worsening), Shortness of Breath (new or worsening), Troubled Breathing (new or worsening), Fever, Chills, Muscle Pain (new or worsening), Headache (new or worsening), Sore Throat (new or worsening), New Loss of Taste or Smell
3. Have you tested positive for COVID-19 through a diagnostic test in the past 14 days?
4. Have you traveled within a state that does not border New York, or a CDC level 2 or 3 Travel Advisory country, for longer than 24 hours within the past 14 days?

*****If you answered yes to any of these questions you will not be permitted to enter and be instructed to leave.*****

Upon entering The NYS Forum, face coverings are required at all times.  Follow the floor markings to the large conference room and find a seat.  Chairs are strategically set six feet apart, please do not move them.  All other rooms (offices, kitchen) will be closed and inaccessible.

• We ask that you put your coat on the back of your chair and do not use the coat rack. 
• There will be hand sanitizer stations throughout office space.
• There will be no food or drink available and the kitchen will be closed. You are welcome to bring their own coffee, water or other beverages
• To use the bathroom, follow the floor markings in the meeting room to exit to the hallway and turn right and immediate left and follow the hallway to the bathrooms.  Upon leaving the bathrooms to return to your meeting, please turn right and follow the hallway to the main entranceway of The New York State Forum and enter through these doors and follow the floor markings back to your seat.  Bathroom code is 2439

Exiting the building:

Follow the floor markings in the office to exit the conference room directly to the hallway and turn right out of the doorway and quickly turn left to exit the stairwell by the bathrooms.  Exit through the doorway you entered from.