The New Jersey Farm Bureau, a grassroots, membership-supported, non-government organization that advocates for agriculture in the state, said that one-time news reporter Liz Thompson has been named executive director, effective July 1.
Thompson will assume the role in accordance with a succession plan designed to ensure a seamless transition from longtime executive director Peter Furey, the longest serving executive director for the Farm Bureau.
“We are fortunate to have someone of Liz’s caliber, knowledge and dedication to Farm Bureau’s mission to step into this key position,” Furey said. “She is well qualified for the position.”
Thompson joined the NJFB staff in 1996 and has held senior-level responsibilities through the present. Her primary tasks in recent years have been coordination of NJFB policies, staff coordinator for all federal issues, chief liaison to the American Farm Bureau and its programs/staff contact person and primary coordinator for the NJFB annual convention in November.
Thompson also works as media coordinator, field representative to Somerset and Middlesex counties, social media director, and liaison to the Young Farmers & Agriculture Professionals program.
“Liz has been a steady hand and a passionate advocate for New Jersey agriculture for decades,” said NJFB President Allen Carter. “Her deep knowledge of our issues and commitment to our members make her the right choice to lead us into the future.”
Thompson outlined the issues facing the Farm Bureau. “Farm viability is the overarching number one issue we face on behalf of our members,” she said in a text message to ROI-NJ. “That viability is impacted by many of the ‘hot issues’ we face on a regular basis – farm labor (need for comprehensive immigration reform), crop damage from wildlife, burdensome and expensive regulations.” Other issues mentioned were support for ag research and professional outreach by Rutgers Cooperative Extension and continued investment by the state in farm preservation.
Thompson graduated from the Ohio State University in 1994 with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural communications and minors in agricultural business and political science. Before joining NJFB, she worked as a newspaper reporter for weekly newspapers in Morris and Sussex counties.
Furey, who served as an executive director of NJFB since April 1982, will remain on the staff as assistant to the president for the remainder of the year in a part-time capacity.
