WASHINGTON—Today, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) welcomed Robin Chesmer, managing member of The Farmer’s Cow and co-owner of Graywall Farms in Lebanon, CT, to Washington, DC to represent Connecticut at the Senate Democratic Rural Summit. The event brought together agricultural leaders from across the United States to discuss growing America’s rural economy and improving  rural infrastructure. Chesmer was nominated by Senator Murphy and selected by the Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee to participate in the summit and represent Connecticut’s agricultural interests.

“If you’ve ever eaten at The Farmer’s Cow Calfé & Creamery in Mansfield, or purchased products produced by any of the six dairy farms that are part of The Farmer’s Cow group, you’ll understand why I nominated a representative from this organization to represent Connecticut at today’s Rural Summit,” Murphy said.“Not only does The Farmer’s Cow produce some of the best, most delicious food in the state – my own family loves it, it also understands the challenges the agricultural community faces today. The organization prioritizes conservation, champions Connecticut’s local food movement, and is committed to producing goods humanely and sustainably. The Farmer’s Cow is also a huge driver for Connecticut’s agricultural economy, which contributes a whopping $2 billion to the state each year. Robin’s voice at today’s Senate gathering is critical and I’m so grateful he could travel all the way to DC to represent our state’s agricultural community.”

“The Farmer's Cow is proud to represent Connecticut farmers and be a voice for local agriculture at the Rural Summit,” said Chesmer.“We are optimistic about the future of local agriculture throughout the Northeast. Consumers are asking for fresh local products and farmers are working hard every day to meet the growing demand. We hope that policy makers will support rural businesses to ensure the long-term sustainability of farming.”

The Farmer’s Cow is a group of six Connecticut dairy farms working for the future of Connecticut’s families and the dairy business. The group was formed in response to consumers’ interest in purchasing fresh, naturally produced, local products. Collectively, The Farmer’s Cow member farms milk 2,300 cows and manage over 6,000 acres of Connecticut farmland. The Farmer’s Cow milk is currently available in over 100 grocery stores throughout the state.

The Senate Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee, one of two Democratic Leadership Committees in the Senate, facilitates an ongoing conversation between Senate Democrats and the American public. At the direction of the Chairman, Senator Mark Begich (D-Alaska), the Committee seeks to inform, engage, and mobilize advocacy groups and constituencies to advance the policies and priorities of the Senate Democratic Caucus. The Committee is dedicated to ensuring that diverse communities have a voice within the Democratic Caucus on key issues facing our nation.

Today’s Rural Summit is a half-day event featuring two moderated panel discussions with senators and a keynote address from former United States Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman. The first panel focused on the rural economy. The second panel focused on rural infrastructure and access to critical services. More than 200 constituents from 25 states are expected to attend, representing a broad cross section of rural issues including housing, rural development, agriculture, education, and conservation.