Farmers consider Larry Valencia their friend

RI Farm Bureau awards Valencia with Friend of Farmers Award

Larry (left) talking to Brent Petersen, one of the cofounders of the 

Richmond Farmer's Market.

STATE HOUSE – Rep. Larry Valencia (D-Dist. 39, Richmond, Hopkinton, Exeter) has been chosen as a recipient of the 2014 Friend of Farmers Award from the Rhode Island Farm Bureau.

The Friend of Farmers Award is one of several awards presented by the bureau each year at its annual event to recognize individuals for their support of the bureau, its members and their goals. 

Representative Valencia is receiving recognition specifically for a law he championed, which streamlines operations within the Division of Agriculture and the state Department of Environmental Management,

Under the new statute, which Gov. Lincoln Chafee enacted with his signature this year, the chief of the Division of Agriculture will report to DEM’s director, aligning the two sectors in order to promote growth in the industry and prevent overlap. The 2014 award dinner will be held at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 20, at the West Valley Inn in West Warwick.

“It is a tremendous honor to be recognized by the Rhode Island Farm Bureau with this award,” Representative Valencia said. “One of my top priorities has always been to strengthen our family farms and make it easier for Rhode Island farmers to conduct business. The agricultural sector is such an important part of our state’s economy, and this new law will not only work to help our farmers, but also to increase government efficiency. This award really means a lot to me personally because as a young man, I worked on my stepfather’s vegetable farm. I know how hard-working the average farmer is and how difficult the challenges can be.”

NOTE: Rep. Donna Walsh is also receiving this award.