Recently, officials from Ulster County and the Town of Lloyd volunteered their time to read the book “I Love Strawberries” by Shannon Anderson to Highland Elementary School students as part of an annual program sponsored by Cornell Cooperative Extension, aimed at celebrating the important role that agricultural plays in local, state and national economies. The program is part of the National Agriculture Week and typically in Ulster County it involves coordinating about 80 classrooms and 1,400 students.

Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger recalled being invited by Cornell Cooperative years ago to do readings for children when she was in the NYS Senate and chaired the Agricultural Committee.

“I went to schools in different parts of the Hudson Valley and the Catskills and read stories. It is so important because agriculture is our second biggest sector of our economy,” she said. “There’s something so wonderful for kids to learn about growing your own food and where it comes from. I found with my own kids that if I planted things, they would pick their own and try what they wouldn’t otherwise. It was very fun to do and I will always come to a school and read a book.”

Lloyd Councilman John Fraino came to read to the kids upon the urging of Ulster County Legislator Gina Hansut.

“I miss reading to my grandkids because they are all grown up and when Gina asked, I said absolutely I’d love to come in and read,” he said. “Everybody is reading about strawberries and it’s great.”

Police Chief James Janso also received a call from Hansut.

“I was more than happy to do it and it’s fun to read to the kids and I enjoy doing it. I wouldn’t pass it up,” he said, adding that his son James was in the class he read to.

Gina Hansut also loves reading to the kids, “and they were good.” She knew they were short some readers, “so I made some calls and Highland came through. It’s a great program that I’ve been involved with for about three years and every year it is a different book that has something to do with agriculture. They provide the books and we gift them to the classrooms. Highland stepped up and we really had a lot of teachers sign up for the readings this year, which is really nice.”