Agricultural Commission Meeting: September 10, 2025
7:00 pm Annex (small) and Virtual
6 Town Hall Dr, Princeton 01541
Published on: September 23, 2025 at 1:53pm
Last modified: October 26, 2025 at 3:22pm
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LIST OF TOPICS TO BE DISCUSSED
Agricultural Commission 9/10/2025 Meeting Agenda
1/ Review & accept 8/13//2025 meeting minutes
2/ Update/confirm social gathering at Cornerstone Ranch, Tues, 9/23, 5 pm
3/ Updates/reminders/continued discussion & planning of 2025 – 2026
presentations:
a/ Fall Presentations/Activities:
I/ Hey Day 11am – 4pm Sat, October 4 (rain date: October 5)
II/ Bee Keeping – 10/22 or 10/29
– update (Eddie)
III/ Backyard Farm Shared Experiences Wed 11/5, 7 pm PCC
– conversation starters – chickens, roadside farm stand, bears,
winterizing
IV/ Herding Dog Demonstration ???
V/ USDA Grants Presentation – January 14, 28 2026
– topic: review of available grants & the application process
– update (Eddie)
4/ Update Friends of Princeton Ag Comm email list
5/ New Business:
a/ topics for future presentations:
(Solicit the public for other topics at all presentations)
Composting
Foraging
Horses
Back Yard Fruits
Annual USDA, NRCS, MDAR grants presentation – January
– need to determine specific topic(s)
b/ TBD
6/ Next meeting dates:
- Wed 10/8, 7pm small room of annex
- Wed 11/12, 7pm small room of annex
- Wed 12/10, 7pm small room of annex (Eddie absent, need a volunteer to chair the meeting)
7/ Action Items for next meeting:
Commission Members present in person: Eddie Good, Chair, Vicki Braunhardt (alternate), Susan Connell, and John Mirick
Members remote: None
Commission Members absent: Marissa Connors (alternate), Dianna Gruber-Markley, Lisa Prozzo (alternate) and Dylan Stimson
Public Participation in person/remote: None
Call to order: approximately 7:20 PM
Minutes
John had not had time to draft minutes for the August 13 meeting. He expects to have those minutes, and minutes of this meeting, for review in October.
Social Gathering
Susan confirmed that she will host the social gathering at Cornerstone Ranch on September 23. Other members are encouraged to bring something to share.
Programs for 2025
Hey Day. This will be Saturday, October 4 with Sunday October 5 as the rain date. John will do a chestnut demonstration. Vicki plans to spend some time at the booth.
Bee Keeping. Eddie has been frustrated in lining up a presenter. The Commission decided to scrub the program for this fall, and to look for a new time once Eddie can get a commitment from a presenter
Backyard Farm Shared Experiences. This is confirmed for Wednesday, November 5 at 7:00 pm at the Congregational Church. Commission discussed being prepared to kick-start discussions, publicity and refreshments.
Herding Dog Demonstration. This is probably an April program. We need more specific information from Lisa, and a location.
Grants Program. January 14 or January 28 are target dates. We are waiting to hear from USDA/MDARS what works for them.
Farm Day. May 9, 2026
Future Program Possibilities
Composting
Beekeeping
Foraging – perhaps a Wednesday evening following by a field trip on Saturday
Horses
Backyard Fruits
Organization
We should solicit names and addresses at every program to add to our Friends of Princeton Ag Comm list. Eddie will pass on the Vicki the names/addresses that he has.
We should also solicit at every program ideas from participants for future programs.
Next Meetings
Saturday October 4 – Hey Day at Wachusett Meadows
Wednesday October 8 – regular meeting in small annex room
Wednesday October 22 (or 29) – Bee Keeping Program in large annex room
Wednesday November 5 – Backyard Farm Shared Experiences at Congregational Church
Wednesday November 12 – regular meeting in small annex room
Wednesday December 10 – regular meeting in small annex room (Eddie will be away)
Meeting adjourned at approximately 8:15 PM
.
Respectfully submitted,
John Mirick