MCFB Names New Board Members
For the new two-year term, Maui County Farm Bureau retained some current board members and elected some new ones. New board members include Bobbie Patnode and Jayson Watts.
Bobbie Patnode, Director
Bobbie Patnode is the “mom partner” in Patnode Family Farm, together with husband Jack and son Ben. The Patnodes have been farming commercially on Maui since 2012. Their farm on Crater Road grows mostly root vegetables such as Japanese and Korean daikon, beets, watermelon radish, onions, and more, all using organic methods.
Being up high (3,700 feet), they are able to grow fruits like peaches and apples, with close to 50 fruit trees. Bobbie grew up in the Northeast, where her father’s family farmed for generations, and met fellow farmer Jack in Minnesota. Bobbie is also a board member of the Kula Community Association, vice-chair of the Police Commission, and a member of the Ag Working Group. “I’m particularly interested in working to help our Maui County farmers work better with the county administration, such as Planning, Water and Real Property Tax departments, so we all receive the support the county has enacted for us,” Bobbie says.
Jayson Watts, Secretary
Jayson Watts serves as Director of External Affairs and Strategic Initiatives at Mahi Pono, LLC. The farming company aims to transform approximately 41,000 acres of vacant sugar cane land into a thriving, diversified agriculture hub in Maui’s central plain.
A graduate of Baldwin High School and the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa, Jayson has a history of building sustainable community development initiatives and public-private partnerships. Before joining Mahi Pono in 2019, Jayson served as a special assistant to the Director of the Hawai‘i State Department of Labor and Industrial Relations; and as senior advisor to Hawai‘i Lieutenant Governors Shan Tsutsui and Doug Chin. Prior to that, he served as deputy sergeant-at-arms of the Hawai‘i State Senate; as legislative director to Shan Tsutsui; and as a congressional intern and staff assistant to the late U.S. Representative Patsy T. Mink. He is from and currently resides in Wailuku.
Board members still serving:
Executive Director: Warren K. Watanabe
OFFICERS:
President: Kyle Caires (20-22)
Vice President: Joshua Shyloh Stafford-Jones (21-23)
Secretary: Jayson Watts (21-23)
Treasurer: Tim Stevens (21-23)
Directors:
Rodrigo “Rudy” Balala (20-22)
Brendan Balthazar (20-22)
James “Kimo” Falconer (20-22)
Teena Rasmussen (20-22)
Heidi Watanabe (21-23)
Bobbie Patnode (21-23)
Board of Directors meet on the last Wednesday of each month except when general membership meetings are held in March, June, September, and December.
MCFB Executive Director’s Message
Aloha Members,
March already! With the start of Spring and Maui County beginning to lift Covid restrictions, we are grateful to be in full production mode here at Maui County Farm Bureau.
The 2022 Legislative Session has been fruitful for Hawai‘i Farm Bureau so far. We encourage all our members to get involved and submit testimony as needed on behalf of the agricultural industry. Let’s make sure our voices are heard.
With the positive direction that things are going, we may have a full roster of in-person events in the year ahead, beginning with our Spring Membership Meeting. We will send out a separate notice for this meeting, which will be held in April. We are also awaiting the green light from the County of Maui and the Parks Department to present our annual Maui AgFest & 4-H Livestock Fair. Keep your fingers crossed, and we will keep you notified.
Here’s to a fulfilling year ahead for agriculture and our island community!
Warren K. Watanabe
Executive Director
MCFB President’s Message
March is upon us, and while we remain optimistic that rainfall will return soon, there’s no question, it’s already dry; it feels like summer!
On a more optimistic note, I am happy to report that the Maui 4-H Youth Livestock Program is active, alive and well.
| This past weekend, many youngsters in the program participated in a small animal weigh-in for their market lamb, market swine and replacement meat goat projects. This event was hosted at Haleakala Ranch, and builds upon the progress already made by other 4-Hers that began weigh-ins and working with their market beef projects in early January, at an event hosted by Kaonoulu Ranch. It is also worth mentioning that Maui’s 4-Hers have already completed their mandatory quality assurance training requirements for the year. The culmination of all these efforts is expected to occur on June 4th, 2022, when 4-Hers show and sell their projects at the Maui AgFest & 4-H Livestock Fair held at War Memorial Stadium. Save the date, we hope to see you there! Hawaii 4-H remains one of the oldest and most effective programs of non-formal education in our state; starting on Maui in 1918. The program assists young people in developing life skills that will enable them to become successful adults through pride in workmanship and accomplishments, personal interaction with peers, and respect for the environment. We extend our thanks to all the 4-H volunteers for their time and efforts on behalf of promoting youth development, and to Maui’s ranches for hosting 4-H events as they have done so for the past few years. |
Moving forward with the formation of a new Maui County Department of Agriculture scheduled for July 2022, a new website with information related to that outcome has been created. Check it out here: https://mauicounty.gov/2473/Department-of-Agriculture.
Mahalo,
Kyle
Legislative Update
The 2022 Legislative Session opened Jan. 19 and is now approaching crossover of bills that are still alive. Many of the bills are in the House Finance Committee and Senate Ways and Means Committee. The Hawai‘i Farm Bureau bills are still alive due to the diligence of our Government Affairs committee.
HB 871 HD1 SD1, Relating to Agricultural Enterprises
HB 1711 HD1, Relating to the University of Hawai‘i
HB 1712 HD1, Relating to Agricultural Lands
HB 1717 HD1, Relating to Agriculture
HB 2305 HD1, Relating to the University of Hawai‘i
SB 2068 SD2, Relating to Land Management
SB 2944 SD1, Relating to Agricultural Lands
SB 2946 SD1, Relating to Irrigation
SB 2947 SD1, Relating to Agricultural Enterprises
We have also been supporting HB 1721, Relating to Feral Animal Management.
Please watch your emails for the HFB Call to Action, and register to submit testimony on the Legislature website, www.capitol.hawaii.gov. Thank you for your support of the farm bureau.
Save the Date for AgFest 2022
After a few years “off,” we are thrilled to announce the date for this year’s Maui AgFest & 4-H Livestock Fair. The popular event will take place at War Memorial Special Events Field on Saturday, June 4, from 9 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.—and as always, it’s free!
While we’re optimistic and excited to present our signature agricultural event, we have a responsibility to the farmers, ranchers, friends of agriculture and attendees. If there are any new developments surrounding the pandemic that will prohibit MCFB from presenting AgFest, we will let everyone know. For now, save the date, register to participate and buy tickets!
All the signature events will be back, including the Maui Legacy Pancake Breakfast, Grand Taste, Keiki Zone, 4-H Livestock Show and Auction, Farmers’ Market, Education Tent and food booths/food trucks. The event is free, and parking is $5 per car.
New this year is an easy registration system in order to reduce crowding in popular areas. Attendees can go online to mauicountyfarmbureau.org and schedule a time slot to visit the Keiki Zone and the 4-H Livestock Show. Simply show your registration to enter. As always, attendees can purchase tickets for the Legacy Pancake Breakfast and Grand Taste chefs’ event; online sales start May 1.
For all other areas at AgFest, no need to register; they will be wide open to the public. Shop, eat, learn, shop, eat some more! These areas include:
– Farmers’ market
– Education tents
– Tractor displays
– Food trucks & food booths
– Eating areas
– Restrooms
Vendors and sponsors are encouraged to join Maui AgFest 2022 by filling out an online application at mauicountyfarmbureau.org. For the Grown on Maui Farmers’ Market, only product grown on Maui is allowed. New this year is the Made in Maui market for vendors who are official Made in Maui members and including not only agricultural products like Maui Crisps beef jerky and Maui ‘Ulu Hummus, but also jewelry, clothing and more.
It’s everything you’ve come to expect from Maui AgFest, coming to you live and in-person on June 4, 2022: mark your calendars now!
| For all other areas at AgFest, no need to register; they will be wide open to the public. Shop, eat, learn, shop, eat some more! These areas include: – Farmers’ market – Education tents – Tractor displays – Food trucks & food booths – Eating areas – Restrooms Vendors and sponsors are encouraged to join Maui AgFest 2022 by filling out an online application at mauicountyfarmbureau.org. For the Grown on Maui Farmers’ Market, only product grown on Maui is allowed. New this year is the Made in Maui market for vendors who are official Made in Maui members and including not only agricultural products like Maui Crisps beef jerky and Maui ‘Ulu Hummus, but also jewelry, clothing and more. It’s everything you’ve come to expect from Maui AgFest, coming to you live and in-person on June 4, 2022: mark your calendars now! |
‘Ag in the Classroom’ 2022 to be Digital
Just like last year, the farm will come to the students, but with a fresh vista and lessons to share. Maui County Farm Bureau presents its annual “Agriculture in the Classroom” (AIC) field trip in digital format again this year, filmed at Haleakala Ranch and featuring a full-color Field Trip booklet.
The AIC program has been around since 2006, and usually features an annual field trip that takes students Upcountry to the heart of Maui’s agriculture community at Haleakala Ranch. But for 2021 and 2022, teams of educational partners from the agriculture sector have put together an educational video and a fun, colorful activity booklet.
This year’s video features Haleakala Ranch – Greg Friel (livestock) and Jordan Jokiel (conservation); Maui Electric (fruit/nutrition); College of Tropical Agriculture & Human Resources (canoe crops); Bayer (parts of a plant); and Maui Soil & Water Conservation District (healthy soil).
The AIC information is created for second-graders in all schools: public, private or charter, or at-home learning. The video link and booklets will be provided to second grades across Maui, through MCFB’s partnership with County of Maui and Office of Economic Development.
Distribution will take place in mid-April to allow teachers to share the agriculture information with their students. Contact info@mauicountyfarmbureau.org if you would like to receive the booklet and link to the video.
In Memory of Shirley Knodel
November 30, 1934 – November 28, 2021
Shirley Ann (Orchard) Knodel has passed away, leaving a legacy of flowers and music behind. Shirley and her husband Lloyd were long-time members of the Maui County Farm Bureau and the Maui Flower Growers Association. They purchased property in Kula and started Lloyd’s Carnations in 1976; they produced carnation lei flowers, roses, and orchids for more than 25 years.
As an accomplished pianist and vocalist, Shirley was a long-time member of a Maui church choir. In 2000, Shirley was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease; however, she maintained her smile and positive outlook for the rest of her life.
In remembrance of Shirley’s love of music, donations may be made to Maui Chamber Orchestra, mauichamberorchestra.org. P.O. Box 1547, Kihei, HI 96753. Write to the family in care of Shirley’s daughter, Teena Rasmussen, P.O. Box 901319, Kula, HI 96790.
Recipe
| Aunty Helenʻs Won Ton by Sissy Lake-Farm Serves: 5 Ingredients: 1 can Spam 2 stalks green onion 1 can water chestnut 1 egg 1 pack won ton wraps (about 25) 4 cups vegetable oil for frying 1 cup water Method Cube spam into small pieces. Dice green onions. Drain water from water chestnuts then dice into small pieces. Pace all dry ingredients into a bowl, crack the egg into bowl and knead and fold until mixed. Take a spoonful of the mixture and place on a wrap. Dip the back of a spoon into a bowl of water. Rub that along the edge of the wrap to moisten it. Fold wrap in half and seal edges making sure there are no openings. Repeat same process until ingredients are finished. In a deep pot add the vegetable oil and heat to 350 degrees. Place won tons in heated oil being sure not to overcrowd the pot. When browned turn won tons over, making sure both sides are cooked to brown in color. Place finished won tons on a cooling rack or paper towel, on a plate and serve with your preference of dipping sauce. Enjoy! |
MCFB Membership
Membership in the Maui County Farm Bureau is your best way to stay informed on all agricultural programs, issues, and educational opportunities that can impact your family farm or ranch. If you are a Friend of a Farmer, we welcome your support as well. Our new online portal makes paying for your membership easy and convenient. Learn about membership benefits here. Through your membership support, MCFB is able to advocate for the entire agriculture community. Join or renew membership here.