The state’s Secretary of Agriculture made a stop in Butler yesterday morning to talk with local farmers.
Russell Redding was the guest speaker at the annual Farmer’s Breakfast, which is sponsored by State Representative Marci Mustello.
Redding said it’s important to visit communities outside of Harrisburg in order to talk directly with farmers.
“You can’t do this job without getting into the community. Whenever I hear from representatives that are asking questions about what we do, it gives me context as to why they’re asking it,” Redding said.
He also highlighted that the Agriculture Department is exploring the idea of opening a livestock lab on this side of the state.
“We’ve got three labs, but State College is the closest. You have to go to Chester County of Harrisburg for testing,” Redding said. “What about the services of livestock agriculture in the west? So, in the proposed budget is $5 million by the governor. These are the folks that have the expectation that we’re going to respond rapidly to their concerns.”
State Representative Marci Mustello says these types are events are important for residents to hear directly from decision-makers in Harrisburg.
“I know a lot of these farmers don’t have time to get to Harrisburg to meet with the secretaries or other officials,” Mustello said. “I just think it’s very important to bring the Secretary of Agriculture to Butler, because we are a very big farming community from Cranberry to Eau Claire.”
