About Our Forum
The Annual Forum of the NYS Agricultural Society is one of the oldest and largest meetings of its kind in NY and possibly the US. All sectors of the ag industry - producers, advocates, decision-makers, and aspiring leaders - gather to discuss and dissect emerging issues and to network with peers. The 2026 Forum – our 194th - will take place January 8th at the Wegmans Conference Center in Rochester, NY and will focus on how stakeholders are adapting to policy, innovation and market shifts in the transforming landscape of food and agriculture in New York, across the US and beyond. Eight awards are presented annually to industry stakeholders including: Ag Promotion, Business of the Year, “Cap Creal” Communications recognition, Century and Bicentennial Farms, Distinguished Service, Farm Safety, Next Generation Farmer and NY FFA Chapter of the Year. Commissioner Richard Ball – NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets – will present his annual State of NY Agriculture Address. Registration is on a first-come-first-served basis and will begin September 30. See sponsorship opportunities below. Contact Ann Shephard at ann@nysagsociety.org for any questions.
Day-Long Program
Begins at 9am January 8; Registration 8am
Attendees will enjoy speakers, networking, exhibits, product sampling and lunch. Registration fee of $175 includes NYS Ag Society membership. Discounts are available for aspiring leaders up to 25 years of age ($75), lifetime members of the NYS Ag Society ($105), and Forum financial supporters.
A great program requires a great venue like the Wegmans Conference Center at 200 Wegmans Market Street, Rochester. If you’re coming a day early or staying a day late, capitalize on a $109 room rate at the Marriott Airport Hotel located at 1890 Ridge Road West in Rochester. It’s a 12-minute trip to the Conference Center. Use this link to make your reservation: Book your group rate for NYS Ag Society Annual Forum 2026
Reservations can also be made by phone by calling central reservations at +1 (888) 236-2427. Reference the block name: NYS Ag Society Annual Forum 2026. If asked, the mini hotel code is NSF. Reserve prior to December 8, 2025.
Venue & Overnight Accommodations
Speaker Line-Up
Barbara Patterson, VP The Torrey Advisory Group
Barbara Patterson serves as the vice president for government affairs at Torrey Advisory Group. Based in Washington DC, Team Torrey is a go-to for food and agribusiness professionals who need guidance through complex federal policy issues. They also serve as an early warning system to help clients steer clear and/or mitigate potential threats.
Martha Hilton & Cathy Gaffney
Martha Hilton - VP of Produce and Floral, and Cathy Gaffney – VP of Specialty Cheese, Deli, and Cheese Caves, have decades of experience working for Wegmans Food Markets. A family-owned chain with 115 stores located throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions, the 2025 American Customer Satisfaction Index ranks Wegmans as one of the 10 supermarkets that consumers love most. Martha has sampled many aspects of the business including merchandising and operations as a store manager. Cathy provides strategic leadership for her divisions, traveling extensively to discover new products and innovative concepts that drive the growth of Wegmans’ specialty businesses.
Nishant Roy
Nishant Roy is Chobani’s Chief Impact Officer where he oversees community impact, philanthropy and government relations. The top-selling Greek yogurt brand in the US, Chobani is building a $1.2 billion state-of-the-art manufacturing facility on the historic grounds of the former Griffiss Air Force Base in Rome, NY.
Karen Cartier
Karen Cartier is Chief Operating Officer of the Northeast Area for Dairy Farmers of America (DFA). She oversees operations and milk marketing in support of DFA’s farmer-owners, managing membership services, financial strategies, crisis response and communications. DFA is a global dairy cooperative and manufactures nearly every form, function, and flavor of high-quality dairy products, including fluid milk, cheese, butter, ice cream, dairy ingredients, and more.
Maureen Ballatori
Maureen Ballatori is the Founder and CEO of Agency 29, a leader in food, beverage, and agriculture marketing in Upstate New York. Based in Rochester, the firm provides a full range of branding, marketing, and creative services, using business intelligence, strategic insights, and purposeful creativity to foster growth for brands.
Paul Guglielmo
Pauly Guglielmo is an entrepreneur, philanthropist, and community leader best known as the founder and owner of Craft Cannery, a New York–based sauce and condiment manufacturing company (and Grow-NY award recipient) that makes products for both national brands and small-batch creators.
Peppe Bonfiglio
Peppe Bonfiglio is the Vice President of Sales at Mastronardi Produce, a leading fourth-generation greenhouse company. With over 20 years in the produce industry, Peppe has been recognized as one of Produce Business’s “40 Under 40” and has contributed to key industry groups, including PMA Committees and Greenhouse Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee.
Brian Nicholson
Brian Nicholson – President, CEO and Co-Owner of Red Jacket Orchards returned to the family business in 2000 after gaining significant experience in retail and advertising.
Brian founded their NYC distribution (a pioneer in local food), expanded GreenMarket operations (50 markets per week), launched new product lines, customers, and production capabilities. Together with his family, Brian has led the company through 25 years of growth with an emphasis on strengthening the brand and scaling the beverage business 40X. He remains focused on expanding the fresh juice business and building a mission driven best-in-class sustainable operation.
Attend the Witter Museum Annual Meeting Beginning at 5pm, Wednesday January 7 at the Marriott Airport, Rochester. Peter A. Wisbey, the Philip K. Wehrheim Curator of Collections at the Genesee Country Village & Museum, will be presenting.
Meet Our 2026 Forum Partners
Multiple sponsorship opportunities available!
Who Attends the Forum?
23% Producers of NY commodities
24% NY colleges & Cornell Cooperative Extension
16% Local, State & Federal Government
15% Agribusiness
11% Advocacy organizations
9% College students & FFA Chapters
2% Media
