PHOTO PROVIDED Pictured, from left, are Centre County Commissioner Amber Concepcion, Commissioner Chair Mark Higgins, Conservation District Director Jim Coslo, Evalene Ishler, Denny McCloskey, Devyn McPheeters, Ethan Howard and Commissioner Steve Dershem.

BELLEFONTE — In recognition of the vital link between Centre County’s communities and the agricultural community that sustains them, commissioners proclaimed Nov. 26 to Dec. 3, 2025 as “Farm City Week.”

Jim Coslo, representing the county Conservation District and the local Farm City Committee, discussed the initiative and welcomed the community to the committee’s annual banquet on Nov. 12.

Centre County is home to more than 1,000 farms, over 300 of which are full-scale commercial operations, and the food they produce supports both national food security and local economic growth.

During Farm City Week, which traditionally takes place around Thanksgiving, residents across the county celebrate farmers’ contributions to the economy through jobs and their harvests, as well as the ways urban centers — and their restaurants, grocery stores and other businesses — support farms and help expand the use of their products.

Throughout the weeklong observance, the Centre County Conservation District hosts educational programs and events that promote understanding and appreciation of agriculture, highlight innovation in farming technology and advocate for the responsible stewardship of natural resources.

This year, the Centre County Conservation District will host its annual Farm City Week dinner on Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2025. The event will begin with a milk and cheese reception at 5:30 p.m., hosted by the Centre County Dairy Princess, followed by dinner at 6 p.m. at CPI (540 N. Harrison Rd., Pleasant Gap, Pa.). Catering will be provided by Yoder’s Country Kitchen.

“At this banquet, we also celebrate conservation, which brings these groups together,” said Jim Coslo, who noted that awards for outstanding conservation partners are presented during the dinner.

This year’s guest speaker will be Dr. Florence Becot, leader of Penn State’s Agricultural Safety and Health Program.

“She’ll be talking to us about stress in the agricultural community and how farm families can manage it,” Coslo said.

Those interested in attending can contact the Conservation District’s office at 814-355-6817.

“It’s a good opportunity to recognize the importance of supporting local farms,” said Commissioner Amber Concepcion. “When we can buy locally produced agricultural goods, that helps support our local agricultural community. And they need all the support they can get.”

“We, the commissioners, would like to thank the more than 1,000 farms and farmettes in Centre County for producing a lot of the food that we enjoy, and the additional hundreds and hundreds of people involved in agriculture, agricultural processing, agricultural services and agricultural education that helps keep everything moving,” added Commissioner Mark Higgins. “(We have) a great farming community here that’s very public spirited.”

In other business commissioners:

— Approved an intergovernmental housing agreement for housing inmates from other county agencies. The cost per day is $75 per inmate plus any medical transports and MAT expenses for the period of Jan. 1, 2026 to Dec. 31, 2027.

— Approved a Letter of Agreement with Bellefonte Borough for the vehicle transfer of a 2019 Chevrolet Sedan for $1.

— Approved a change order with McCrossin for asbestos abatement at the Centre County Sheriff’s Office in the amount of $31,184.84.

— Approved CNET sponsorships for the livestream 2025 Municipal Election Vote-By-Mail Processing rooms at the Centre County Community Services Building and of the Board of Elections meeting held on Nov. 6, 2025, starting at 10 a.m. and the Board of Elections meeting held on Nov. 7, 2025, starting at 10 a.m.