After serving several years as a member of Pomfret's Agricultural Commission, resident Jim Rowley, a tool-maker and local farmer, was recently appointed commission chairman.

Q: What is the mission of the commission?

A: "To promote and protect agriculture in town. We have a consulting role in which, if called on, we could advise town boards and commissions. So far, no big issues have come up, though. There's also an education side in which we host various workshops, like bee-keeping , gardening and tree pruning for interested people. And they've been very popular, with between 50 and 60 people coming out for the bee-keeping seminar. We keep in touch with agricultural commissions in other towns, too, mostly when we attend different workshops."

Q: What is your role as commission chairman?

A: To continue pushing to keep agriculture vital and alive in the area. We're looking in August to host a one-day farmers market. There are a lot of weekly markets in the region, but for many people it can be tough to produce and sell on a weekly basis. We'll use the one-day event as a kind of pilot, feeler program to gauge interest and hash out the pros and cons of going forward with similar kinds of markets."

Q: What else does the commission have planned for this year?

A: "We're discussing a farm-to-plate meal with a local chef preparing a meal with local produce. There will be be more workshops and we've toyed with the idea of having some community gardens, maybe in cooperation with the schools. We're always looking for new members, anyone interested in any kind of agriculture, including aqua-agriculture and  hydro-agriculture — anyone's welcome to attend our meetings, held at 7 p.m. on the third Thursday each month at the senior center."

Q: How have people's attitudes changed recently on local agriculture?

A: People are now looking to get homegrown food, from vegetables and animals raised near them, things like beef, pigs, chicken and eggs. You didn't see that kind of interest 10 years ago, but when people heard of (genetically modified organisms), they learn products produced that way can alter a person's chemical make-up. They want farm-raised."

Q: How did you get involved in agriculture promotion?

A: "I'm originally from the city. I lived in Meriden until I moved to Pomfret in 1993. I always loved the outdoors and something about this place fit me. I used to visit a guy who had a piece of property in Woodstock and I used to stop in Pomfret to buy eggs. I met my wife soon after and we have 35 heads of cattle we raise now. We also have several chickens and pigs, so there's never enough hours in the day to get things done."