Joan S. Petzen Recipient of the 2007 Brooks Patterson Community Leadership Award
- Cattaraugus County Economic Development, Planning & Tourism
- Released: June 18, 2007
The Cattaraugus County Planning Board presented, at its June 13th Annual Dinner Meeting, the 2007 Brooks Patterson Community Leadership Award to Joan S. Petzen for her outstanding leadership and service in agricultural planning and farmland protection in Cattaraugus County. The meeting was held at Seitz's Country Lodge in Delevan with 85 people in attendance. The topic of the evening was "Agricultural and Farmland Protection Planning and State Funding Programs".
(l-r) William Sprague, Chairman, Cattaraugus County Planning Board and Joan S. Petzen, recipient of the Brooks Patterson Community Leadership Award for 2007. Photo by Jack Berger
The recipients of this annual award are chosen to give countywide recognition to leaders and volunteers who make lasting contributions to the people and communities of Cattaraugus County and its region and who exemplify the outstanding spirit and example that Torrance Brooks and Donald Patterson set during their lifetime of dedicated service to their respective communities, County Legislature, County Planning Board, and regional agencies.
Mrs. Petzen's service and leadership to the County includes serving as a member and Chair of the Cattaraugus County Agricultural & Farmland Protection Board for over 20 years. In that role, and together with the Board, Joan has assisted planners and consultants in the development of Cattaraugus County's Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan. She has also developed a process for administering the County's Right-to-Farm Law and used her skill in community dispute resolution in dealing with farmer / neighbor relations issues. In addition, she worked with NYSDOT to ensure that the alignment of the Route 219 Expressway will take the least amount of prime agricultural land and advises the County Legislature in the creation and maintenance of the Agricultural District Program.
"... the importance of agriculture and preserving it for future generations, which I am striving to do."
Mrs. Petzen has 23 years of service with Cornell Cooperative Extension Allegany-Cattaraugus County. In her position as Extension Issue Leader for Agriculture and Natural Resources – Business Management Educator, Joan teaches business management concepts including financial analysis, personnel management, business transfer and retirement planning, enterprise evaluation, and budgeting for farms and small businesses.
She also assists agricultural related cooperatives such as REAP Farmers Markets and Specialty Animal Meats and is always available to teach, assist and advise on agricultural related issues to any individual, farmer, businessperson, or municipal official.
Joan states "I have been involved in agriculture all my life. I grew up on a dairy farm and was mentored by my father, John Sinclair, on the importance of agriculture and preserving it for future generations, which I am striving to do."
View Joan Petzen's bio - Recipient of the 2007 Brooks Patterson Community Leadership Award