LETTER TO PRESIDENT GEARAN
Mark D. Gearan, President
Hobart and William Smith Colleges
Coxe Hall, President’s Office
Geneva, NY 14456
Dear President Gearan:
In your eighteen years of service, Hobart and William Smith Colleges has become a leader in innovation and social movements, with an ambition to create equity and service. The Colleges has prepared students to “Lead Lives of Consequence” through globally-focused, student-centered learning environments because we know the values and skills that are needed for our students to succeed in life after college. This is why we are among the few colleges and universities that have signed the National Climate Commitment, as well as why we started one of the largest solar farms in the Eastern Hemisphere in 2016. Why should we treat our agricultural innovation any differently? Despite being so progressive, Hobart and William Smith Colleges is still behind other universities and colleges in Agriculture innovation and advancement. Today, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures, there are 30 states that have implemented policies and laws to start Industrial Hemp Pilot Programs, with two Pilot Programs starting in New York State. However, we can take the necessary steps to advance the Colleges’ Agricultural presence to exploit the benefits of Industrial Hemp. That first step to agriculture innovation starts with an Industrial Hemp Pilot Program Application to Christopher Logue, the Director of the Division of Plant Industry, at the New York State Agriculture and Markets Department. I want Hobart and William Smith Colleges to apply to the New York State Industrial Hemp Agriculture Pilot Program to grow, research, and sell Industrial Hemp.
If the institution were to apply for one of ten, three-year, Hemp Pilot program permits to grow, research, and sell Industrial Hemp, opportunities would be created for HWS students and the Geneva Community residents. It would also create an opportunity for HWS to progress through New York States Agricultural economic development through productive land use and by creating jobs for farmers, residents, and students. More than 25,000 different products would be able to be produced and would span over nine markets: agriculture, textiles, recycling, automotive, furniture, food/nutrition/beverages, paper, construction materials, and personal care, according to a published article, “Agriculture Commodity of Industrial Hemp”, by the Congressional Research Service. During the Country’s push for Industrial Hemp growth and use, we could work to put millions of NYS agricultural acres back to use. As an Architecture Major who has studied and researched Industrial Hemp materials and who has written multiple drafts to start one of ten Hemp Pilot Programs, as well as connected and spoken with the first NYS Hemp Farmers, JD Farms, Professor Beth Newell in the Biology Department, a local farmer Rob Poole, and Christopher Logue in the NYS Agriculture and Markets Department, I believe that Industrial Hemp would not only gain a significant amount of Institutional and State support, but it would continue paving the way for future farmers to benefit from the economic opportunity of Industrial Hemp.
Why shouldn’t the Colleges be at the forefront of innovation and implement this new opportunity? According to Assemblywomen Donna Lupardo, industrial hemp has a huge potential: “ Industrial hemp has the potential to transform agriculture and manufacturing in New York and across the nation. Through the States pilot program, we are positioning farmers and business to take advantage of this crop when full scale production is permitted by the federal government.” Because of the support of Assemblywomen Lupardo, as well as Senator Tom O’Mara and Governor Cuomo, both Cornell University and Morrisville State College were able to start Industrial Hemp Pilot Programs in 2015. What is even more encouraging is the amount of support from NYS resident’s, organizations, businesses, local officials, and government. Due to the millions of unused acres of land in NYS and its history of Agricultural Manufacturing, the Pilot Program has now been revised to allow private farmers to apply to one of ten Hemp Pilot Programs. Your support is what it takes for Industrial Hemp to enter NYS’s agricultural market as a major stakeholder, which is why our college should be at the forefront of this great opportunity.
Some may argue that Industrial Hemp is marijuana but research and state and federal laws show that Industrial hemp has less than 0.03% THC, the psychoactive drug that gets you high. Many will expect the Geneva Community and the Colleges to not want Industrial Hemp in their town because they don’t want “Marijuana” growing in their town. However, institutions, state officials, and aarmers are already changing the rhetoric and marketing for Industrial Hemp as agriculture and not horticulture, with which marijuana is associated. Once Industrial Hemp is recognized as an agricultural economic and educational opportunity, many institutions and NYS residents will be influenced to support the growth of Hemp. We must recognize the existing benefits of the Fribolin Farm: they are growing local food and have started an on-campus farmers’ market, but over 30 acres are being unused and not enough profit is being made. Growing Industrial Hemp is the answer. By accepting the donation of the Fribolin farm from Carl Fribolin, you have set a standard for the Colleges to be involved in the agricultural process and development of the state.
You recently started one of the largest solar farms and signed a national climate commitment to end our carbon dioxide emissions by 2025. You have built a science observatory to expand our offerings in astronomy and a new Performing Arts Center to accommodate our current and prospective students. Lastly, you have also started an on-campus farm that was donated by Carl Fribolin, which has been an incredible step towards innovation and opportunity for our campus and students. I cannot express how proud I am to call myself a Hobart and William Smith Student and to have you as my President. I trust that you will have the same sense for innovation and progression when it comes to starting the Industrial Hemp Pilot Program. What we want is to create opportunities for students, prospective students, the Geneva community, the environment, and local, regional, and state businesses. A hemp pilot program on the Fribolin farm for the growth, research, and sale of Hemp will create many benefits for the College’. A lot can happen in three years, just look at the past three years at Hobart and William Smith Colleges’.
Thank you for taking the time to read my letter. I look forward to talking with you soon!
Sincerely yours,
Cody Rivera. Hobart ‘17