AUGUSTA – The Maine Beef Producers Association announces that Pamela Harnden of Dryden, has been appointed executive director. As executive director, Harnden will serve Maine beef producers as a liaison between the Association, Maine’s Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension, the Maine Beef Industry Council, Aroostook Beef Producers and other related organizations.
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Pam Harnden |
Additional responsibilities include increasing membership, serving as a resource for all members, creating and maintaining a website, publishing monthly newsletters and assisting with all sales and events sponsored by the association. Funding for the position was made possible through a SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education) grant, a Maine Department of Agriculture sponsorship and an anonymous donation.
Harnden has a strong agricultural background. She earned her B. S. in Agribusiness from the University of Maine, helped operate the family dairy farm in her youth and for the past 20 years has been involved in apple, blueberry, cut flower and vegetable production. Harnden has been actively involved in agricultural education by providing numerous tours of her farm, serving as a presenter at Ag Day at Farmington Fair and working as a facilitator/training organizer for Maine Ag in the Classroom.
She has served as a director for the Maine Small Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association and Franklin County Cooperative Extension’s Executive Board. She is currently president of Franklin County Farm Bureau, Chair of Franklin County’s Soil and Water Conservation District and Chair of Maine Farm Bureau’s Women’s/Agricultural Education Committee. She also serves on MACD’s (Maine Association of Conservation Districts) Board of Directors and Maine Farm Bureau’s Executive Committee.
The Maine Beef Producer’s Association serves its members and the industry throughout the state of Maine. In particular they are noted for creating the Maine New England Beef Expo that has evolved into the Northeast Livestock Expo. At these events both purebred and feeder calves are sold and youths have an opportunity to participate in shows and educational opportunities. A Club Calf sale at Fryeburg fair and educational opportunities including the annual statewide Beef Conference are supported by MBPA.
President Ron Howard noted that, “This is an exciting stage in the growth of the Maine Beef Producers. We believe that the beef industry in the state of Maine is at a point of significant growth and as our first ever paid executive director, Pam will not only support our directors with current initiatives, but will allow us to expand and serve our membership in so many new ways.”
As executive director, Harnden is excited about helping Maine’s beef industry grow and prosper and informing consumer’s about the importance of the beef industry to Maine’s economy. She looks forward to meeting and working with producers and can be reached at 207-645-2568 or mailto:harnnp@exploremaine.com
