Senator Kristen Gillibrand visits Allegany and Wyoming County on statewide roadtrip

US Senator stops at Letchworth, the Wyoming County Fair, and Willow Creek Farm in Belmont

By Andrew Harris, photos provided

The United States Senator from New York, Kristen Gillibrand has been making stops all over the state during the Senate’s summer recess. A quick check on her social media tells the tale of a “roadtrip across the state,” filled with stops at local businesses, farms, breweries, and attractions like Watkins Glen International Speedway.

After a visit to the Wyoming County Fair, Senator Gillibrand took in the beauty of Letchworth State Park. Allegany County Cornell Cooperative Extension then hosted the Senator in Belmont NY at Willow Creek Farm, a cutting edge dairy farm.

The Senator and a small entourage held a Q&A session with owner, Chuck Deichmann. Willow Creek Farm is an organic dairy and was the first organic dairy in the U.S. to use a robotic milking system. Gillibrand was clearly impressed and had this to say about the tour and visit with Deichmann:

“It was a joy to visit Willow Creek Farm in Belmont today and see their commitment to caring for their cows and their community. I’m fighting to make sure our dairy farms get a fair price for their milk so our farms and communities can thrive.”

Gillibrand, a longtime member of the agriculture committee, was interested in interacting with local farmers to discuss the upcoming Farm Bill. Following a tour of the milking operation, Gillibrand and Deichmann discussed topics of interest including farm labor, milk prices and internships.