Upcoming speaking engagements & Resume
Upcoming Speaking Engagements:
November 16th-19th 2009 NFWF/ Chesapeake Bay Funders Network, Staunton VA.
October 29th, 2009 Syracuse Invitational Horse Show
January 21st-23rd 2010 Northeast Pasture Consortium & Vermont Graziers Network Grazing Conference
January 29th-30th 2010 Winter Green Up Conference Latham NY
February 4th-6th 2010 PASA Conference, State College, PA
February 27th, 2010 Maine Grass Farmers Network Conference (Rick Kersbergen, 1-800-287-1426 or richardk@umext.maine.edu
March 8-11th West Virginia (4 sites)
March 2010 University of Guelph, Ontario
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Resume: TROY BISHOPP AKA “The Grass Whisperer”
2809 Rt. 12-BDeansboro, N.Y. 13328(315) 841-3336 E-mail: farmboytb@aol.com
Troy Bishopp, "The Grass Whisperer" comes to us from Upstate New York Farm country between Hamilton College and Colgate University at the headwaters of the Chesapeake Bay, Great Lakes and Hudson-Mohawk River Water and Foodsheds. This “Jack–of-all –trades” guy owns and operates Bishopp Family Farm with his very understanding wife, daughters and parents. The 5th generation, 132 year old farmstead is home to a Custom Grazing operation that finishes beef and backgrounds feeder cattle on 450 acres of owned and leased native pastures, and is home to an emerging Cow-calf operation. The “Sunshine in every Bite” Beef that was grazed on these divine pastures have been served at President Obama’s inaugural dinners, white table cloth restaurants, in Japan, at grazing conferences and to the local community.
Because these 250 head of grazing employees don’t need a lot of supervision, he is also employed by the Madison County Soil and Water Conservation District and the Upper Susquehanna Coalition, as their regional grazing specialist, media dude, fence installer, farmer mentor, intern parent, grant writer, event planner, speaker and anything else that will get him into trouble!
In addition to his job duties, he writes a monthly column for Lancaster Farming and maintains a website: www.thegrasswhisperer.com . He is the past Chairman of the Central New York Resource Conservation and Development Council. He is a member of NY Farm Bureau, Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture, Mohawk Valley Toastmasters, The Sons of the American Legion and is the past Chairman of the New York State Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative's Steering Committee and former member at large on the NESARE PDP Advisory Committee.
Some recent accolades include: The Bishopp Family Farm is a 2010 inductee of the prestigious Century Farm Award by the New York State Agricultural Society, 2009 best published dairy article and photos from the American Dairy Association, Dairy Council and the New York State Soil and Water Conservation Committee. 2008 Pioneer Grazier’s award from the New York GLCI, 2009-2005 Madison Co. SWCD New York State AEM Agriculture in the News Award Team, and Northeast SARE’s 20th anniversary photo contest winner.
Bishopp Family Farm has operated in the hamlet of Deansboro, in Upstate N.Y. since the 1890’s. Today the 5th generation farm seasonally custom grazes and produces 60,000 lbs. of grass-finished beef and stocker calves on 500 acres of owned and leased land as well as managing a cow/calf herd. In addition to his farm management, he also works full-time at the Madison County Soil and Water Conservation District and the Upper Susquehanna Coalition as their grazing specialist/advocate. Troy and his family have been using the art of rotational grazing for over 20 years. Troy has a degree in Animal Husbandry from Morrisville College. and has extensive training in High Tensile Fence design & construction from Kiwi Fence Company in PA. He is a writer for The Lancaster Farming weekly paper, The GRAZE magazine, The Cornell Small Farms Quarterly, and other local periodicals. His diverse background has included full time dairy farming, managing a 1.2 million chicken grower operation, hi-tensile fence contractor and grazing consultant/mentor.
In addition to his work he has served as a grazing mentor for the Regional Farm & Food Project. He is the past Chairman of the CNY Resource Conservation & Development Council, former chairman of the NYS Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative, member of the Oneida Co. Farm Bureau and former county director. He is a member of the Mohawk Valley Toastmasters and the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture. This farmer also serves as a trustee for the Deansboro Cemetary Assoc. and is a member of the Sons of the American Legion. He is the recipient of the 2008 Pioneer Graziers Award from NYS GLCI in recognition of his leadership,dedication and promotion to grass-based agriculture. He received the 2008 AEM Agriculture in the News Award. He is a past recipient for the outstanding forage producer by the NYS Forage and Grasslands Council and is a past winner of the best exhibit at the Central NY Farm Show. Troy has been a guest speaker at the 3rd National GLCI Grazing Conference, the 2008 PASA Conference, NOFA NY & NJ conferences, University of Guelph, Ontario, The Great Lakes Grazing conference, the Vermont Farmers Grazing conference as well as numerous regional and local workshops and events. He resides on the farm with his wife of 22 years Corrine and has three daughters Sarah, Lindsay and Katie. Troy is very passionate about the virtues of pasture-based agriculture, conservation, family farms and locally grown food.
My presentations and life experiences are practical, REAL, thought provoking and hard working, consistent with one that works the land. If you want to interject some passion into your group, give me a call.
Speaking fees are negotiable depending the circumstances, plus travel expenses & lodging
Keynotes, Clubs, Workshops and training sessions also available by the day or hour
References by request
Previous presentation venues include: The National Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative,M.O., Appalachian Grazing Conf. W.V., Vermont Grass Farmers Assoc., PASA Conf., Grasstravaganza 2004 & 2008, N.J. NRCS All-Employees meeting, Mohawk Valley Toastmasters, The Oneida Club, The Great Lakes Grazing Conf., Susquehanna River Basin Commission,P.A., N.Y. Beef Industry Annual Meeting, The Oneida Community Mansion,The University of Guelph,Ont., Cornell Small Farms Program and the NYS Food Policy meeting.