The NJ Agricultural Society

Feature Story NJ Agricultural Society – A History of Service to New Jersey

For over 240 years, the New Jersey Agricultural Society has played a prominent role in New Jersey’s agricultural history and has served to support this important industry. From its inception until present time, the society has worked to further New Jersey agricultural pursuits. As agriculture has evolved over the past centuries, so have the activities of the society. However, the mission remains the same today as it did in 1781; “To preserve and enhance agriculture, farming and related activities and businesses in New Jersey through educational, informational, and promotional programs.”

To illustrate just how long the society has been in existence, when it was formed in 1781 the United States were still colonies fighting for independence. George Washington would not become President for another eight years!

While most of the society’s initial records have been lost to history, the earliest reference to the society was a notice in the NJ Gazette advising that the next meeting of the NJ Society for Promoting Agriculture, Commerce and the Arts would be held on September 7, 1781. The first secretary of the society was Samuel Stockton. Born in 1751, Stockton was a Princeton graduate, lawyer, diplomat to Austria & Holland during the Revolutionary War, Secretary to New Jersey’s convention to ratify the constitution and later served as New Jersey’s Secretary of State.

The society’s activities really took off in 1818 when Andrew Kirpatrick (who was also serving as New Jersey’s Chief Justice) became its secretary. Under Kirpatrick, the society became instrumental in disseminating information to the industry. Topics included: Improved Farm Practices, Systems of Cultivation, Crop Rotation, Manure Applications, analyzed grain and forage varieties, and varietal studies for apples and cider as well as studies to develop profitable breeds of livestock. Do these activities sound familiar? If you think about it, the society was almost a forerunner for what is now Rutgers University Agricultural Experiment Station.

Since agriculture was New Jersey’s largest industry at the time, the organization was vital to supporting and advancing this industry to help meet the challenges of a growing nation. In fact, the society would coordinate their meetings to coincide when New Jersey’s legislature was in session. The society advised the legislature on all agricultural matters. Since the NJ Department of Agriculture would not be formally organized until 1916, the society acted as an “unofficial” department of agriculture to the government.

In 1839, the society reorganized and changed their name to the New Jersey State Agricultural Society. They expanded their activities to sponsor agricultural fairs held in various locations throughout the state. These fairs served to exchange the latest information and showcase new agricultural practices among the industry. To encourage improved breeding, prizes were given out to various categories and breeds of livestock. The society sponsored speakers who came from all over the country to lecture on the latest agricultural technology. The society even funded a special committee whose job was to investigate disease outbreaks in crops and livestock, as well as offer recommendations to mitigate these problems. By 1855, the society became more structured. A constitution was created, and an executive committee and board of trustees was formed. Dues were one dollar per year, or ten dollars would buy you a “life membership”. The state legislature began a yearly appropriation of $1,000 toward funding the society’s programs. Charles Olden became President of the society. (Olden is noteworthy to New Jersey history since he later became Governor and his former estate, “Drumthwacket” now serves as New Jersey’s official Governor’s residence.)

by Al Murray, Executive Director, NJ Agricultural Society

In addition to organizing agricultural fairs, the society pursued other activities to promote New Jersey’s agricultural industry. The society worked to create an agricultural department at the State Normal School. (Now known as The College of New Jersey) The society developed the curriculum and designed the textbooks that were used by the students. The society also helped establish the NJ State Board of Agriculture and advocated for the formation of the NJ Agricultural Experiment Station.

In 1865, the society bought 65 acres in Newark, NJ and used it as a site for a permanent fairground. Agricultural fairs were held there from 1867 to 1899. The society later sold the property to Essex County where it remains today as a park.

As agriculture in New Jersey adapted and changed over the years, so has the NJ Agricultural Society. Our mission has evolved to reflect New Jersey’s change from Elected Officials at Coughlin Gleaning - 2018a rural population to a highly urbanized state. As such, the society recognized the need to educate a largely ur- work of NJ food banks, churches, and other groups engaged ban population about the importance of agriculture. in feeding their communities. The program helped organize

Today, the society sponsors three major programs: Farm- and participate in multiple “pop-up” emergency food distriers Against Hunger, Learning Through Gardening, and the bution events staged throughout the state and fed thousands NJ Agricultural Leadership Development Program. of families.

Farmers Against Hunger was founded in 1996 to link The Learning Through Gardening Program is a program farmers who have over-supplies of produce to NJ feeding or- sponsored by the NJ Agricultural Society that provides New ganizations. Before this program began, farmers would sim- Jersey elementary schools with financial, educational, and ply discard or disk back into the soil any produce that went agricultural resources to create a school garden that is used unsold. Over time, we have gleaned millions of pounds of as a learning laboratory. Teachers are encouraged to use the food, and have fed countless people in need. We have built school garden to teach their standard curriculum, including up a network of over 80 farms, grocery retailers and whole- math, science, social studies, health, and language arts. Stusalers who help us in our efforts. Additionally, we have over dents will have the opportunity to learn how healthy, nutri1,200 volunteers who assist in this important program. We tious food is produced, why it is important to include fruits currently employ 5 staff members and have three trucks ded- and vegetables in their diets, and the reasons to care for their icated to this program. Now in its 25th year, the program has environment. grown into a year-round operation that partners with farms, Participating schools receive: wholesale produce organizations, retailers, processors, and • Materials to build a garden including raised beds, anyone else possessing excess food for donation. Funding is soil, hand tools, hoses, soil test, and composting bins. derived solely from donations, fund raising and grants. • Vegetable seedlings and seeds for three growing sea-

In a typical year, the program delivers approximately 1.5 sons each year: fall, spring, and summer million pounds of food to New Jersey feeding organizations. • A kick-off garden pep rally. When the COVID pandemic ravaged New Jersey, unemploy• An introductory garden teaching workshop to be ment and food insecurity skyrocketed statewide. Farmers held at the grant recipient's school. Against Hunger encountered unprecedented demand and • Lesson plans to coordinate outdoor garden experiadapted their operations to meet these challenges. In addi- ences with everyday curriculum in math, science, tion to gleanings and food deliveries, Farmers Against Hun- social studies, language arts, and health. Most lesson ger collaborated with various levels of government and a net- plans are also posted on the web for easy access,

• A Best Practices Workshop attended by teachers throughout the state. • Seeds and supplies in winter for indoor agriculture lessons. • Access at any time to gardening and garden-teaching assistance from the Learning Through Gardening program director.

The NJ Agricultural Leadership Development Program (NJALDP) is a two-year professional development program of the NJ Agricultural Society, formed over 20 years ago. It is sponsored by the New Jersey Agricultural Society, New Jersey Department of Agriculture, New Jersey Farm Bureau, American Agriculturist Foundation, Farm Credit East, and the Northeast Agricultural Education Foundation.

NJALDP’s purpose is to provide educational programming for individuals involved in farming and agribusiness to become informed, articulate leaders. NJALDP provides leadership development opportunities designed specifically for farmers and others in New Jersey ag-related businesses. Participants learn communications and leadership skills, receive education about state and federal government, and take domestic trips to learn about agriculture in other areas of the US.

The NJ Agricultural Society is a membership- based, non-profit organization. We welcome all levels of participa-

Farms Against Hunger

tion and encourage industry support, whether it be through membership, financial support, or even donations of materials to Learning Through Gardening or Farmers Against Hunger. Anyone interested in learning more can visit us at: www.njagsociety.org

Al Murray serves as the Executive Director of the NJ Agricultural Society. He previously spent a 33-year career with the New Jersey Department of Agriculture and served as Assistant Secretary of Agriculture.

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