Pam Harnden, Chair

Pam is currently Chairman of the Soil & Water Conservation District’s Board of Supervisors and has served on the Board since 1996. She is very education oriented and has volunteered at Ag Day at the Fair for many years. Pam and her family operate a diversified farm in East Wilton with “Pick Your Own”apples and flowers as well as a small store, The Harvest Hutch, where they sell this produce, along with mixed vegetables. She also, provides tours of the family’s orchards to schools, commodity groups, and area organizations. Pam is the President of the Franklin County Farm Bureau Board of Directors and the CO-Chairman of its Women’s/Ag Education Committee as well as the Vice President of Franklin County Cooperative Extension’s Executive Board and serves as a Director of the Maine Vegetable & Small Fruit Growers Association.

L. Herbert "Bussie" York, Vice Chair

"Bussie", is currently Vice-Chairman of the Soil & Water Conservation District’s Board of Super-visors and has served on the Board since 1970. Bussie & wife, Brenda, own & operate the 1,500 acres that make up the Sandy River Farms. He also served at the state level, MACD & Conservation Commission, for 10 plus years in various positions including president as well as on the national, NACD, level. Bussie has or is serving on: the Farmington: planning board & budget committees, Grange #122 , and Farmer’s Union as well as the Franklin County: 4-H beef foundation committee leader and leader for the tractor club; Extension Association; Leaders Association; Farm Service Agency; and Farm Bureau, not to mention the Western Mountains Alliance. Statewide he served on the: Dairy Show committee, Dairyman Assoc., Bean Growers Assoc., Maple Producers Assoc., Farm Bureau, Milking Shorthorn Assoc., etc.

Bruce Tracy, Secretary

Bruce is currently secretary of the Soil & Water Conservation District’s Board of Supervisors and has served on the Board since 1992. He is or has been an active member of the 4-H Swine Club, Beef & Tractor Club, Assistant 4-H leader of both the Swine Club and the Sue-Sue Club as well as serving on the Farmington Budget Committee. At the state level Bruce served on the Maine: Maple Producers Assoc., Angus Assoc., and Beef Assoc. He also served on the New England and the National Angus association.

Thayden Farrington

Thayden has been on the Soil & Water Conservation District’s Board of Supervisors since 1980. Thayden is the owner and operator of his 183 acre family farm, “Thayben Farm, Inc.” His farm was one of the first in Franklin County to initiate an improved pasture grazing system. However, he has had some really bad luck in that his barn burned and had to be rebuilt in 1992, 1994, and 1996. Thayden transformed his dairy farm to an organic operation in 2002. Thayden has been a very active member of the local grange. He has served on the state youth grange committee, the state grange Ag committee, mast of the subordinate grange, Franklin County Excelsior Pomona, past president of the Extension Association, a member of the Masons, 16 years on the Eastern Sire Committee, an assistant 4-H Club Leader, and the MACD Budget committee.

Linton Robinson

Linton has been an Associate Supervisor since 1992. He owns and operates the 268 acre LDR Farm, in Chesterville, Jay, & Perkins Plantation. Linton worked on his father’s farm and lumbering business for several years before starting his own beef herd and forest harvesting business. Linton and his wife Diane have 3 grown sons. He is active with both the Franklin County Farm Bureau past president and vice president and the State Forestry committee. Linton is on the Chesterville Planning Board and has been a member of the Maine Beef Producers Feeder Calf Sales since 1988. He received the Woodland Conservation Award in 1988.

Henry Hardy

Henry with his wife, Teresa and three children milk 40 head of registered Ayrshires twice a day on their organic dairy farm. He works in the woods doing selective cutting during the winter and makes maple syrup in the spring. Henry is currently the treasurer of the Franklin County Farm Bureau, the president of the New England and the Maine State Ahrshire Clubs and a Franklin County 4-H Dairy Club leader. He is also a past-president of Franklin County Extension Executive Board and has taught a tractor safety course for many year.

Robert Leso

Robert, Bob, Leso, is a retired Maine State Forester. He attended board meetings before becoming an associate, being very interested in FCSWCD’s many programs. Residing in Chesterville on Locke Pond, he still works as a consultant forester.

Jeff Harris

Jeff joined the FCSWCD Board as an Associate Supervisor in 2002. Jeff is the operator and part-owner of the 400 acre hay, corn, pasture and forest land “Harris Farm” in New Sharon. He raises replacement heifers but still manages to find time to be involved with his children’s activities. When ever he gets a chance, Jeff works his father providing auctioning services.

Rupert Pratt

Rupert Pratt, a farmer from Strong, has been on the Farm Service Agency’s County Committee for many years. He is very active in the Franklin County Agricultural Society that is instrumental in hosting the annual Farmington Fair.

Ray Buck

Ray Buck, a farmer from Chesterville, comes to the FCSWCD Board of Trustees, in 2009 with a host of agricultural experience.