Posted By Christine Tauzel, NYSAMP Program Director, Monday, July 25, 2016

Every year in August, the New York State Agricultural Mediation Program (NYSAMP) participates in Empire Farm Days. The event is the largest outdoor agricultural trade show in the Northeastern U.S. with an astonishing range of exhibits, seminars, demonstrations, and activities featuring the latest innovations, newest technologies and cutting-edge techniques in agriculture.

Last year, NYSAMP asked “On the farm, what pushes your buttons?” And people told us with answers ranging from the predictable: spouses, government, and weather to the surprising: tomato-snatching chickens, cell phones, and arguments over the last piece of pie.

When we train people to use mediation or conflict management tools we often stress how important it is to be aware of, and to develop tools for managing, our hot buttons, biases and triggers.

As an agricultural mediation program, it is also critical that we keep our finger on the pulse of today’s New York farmer. What makes them tick? What really gets to them?

This year we will continue our unscientific survey at Empire Farm Days in Seneca Falls on August 9th, 10th and 11th. Stop by Lot # 502 on West Seneca Acres Avenue and tell us about what pushes your “hot buttons” on the farm. Claudia Kenny and Chris Tauzel from NYSAMP will be there along with volunteer mediators and staff from local Community Dispute Resolution Centers. It would be great to see and hear from you!

New York State Agricultural Mediation Program (NYSAMP) offers confidential, low or no cost mediation to the Agriculture community in every county in New York. (nysamp.com)

See the article in Morning Ag Clips