Alstede's Hosts Reception At Chester Firehouse

Alstede Farms has partnered with Delaware Valley College to bring an agricultural networking event to Chester on March 14.

The event is free and will be held at 6:30 p.m. in Hoffman Hall, at the Chester Firehouse with reservations required.

The purpose of the evening is for alumni looking to reestablish old friendships or make new ones and people looking to network with others who are working in the field of agriculture. It is open to the public; participants do not have to be DelVal alumni.

Guests will hear about the College firsthand and join in on the conversation.  Russell Redding, a former Pennsylvania secretary of agriculture and DelVal’s current dean of agriculture and environmental sciences, will be on hand to discuss the future of the College and the field of agriculture.

“DelVal has a rich history in the science of agriculture and legitimacy on many of the most pressing issues of our time,” said Redding, “We want to hear from our alumni and stakeholders, to help us chart the future. DelVal is important to the future of this country and the world because the College is addressing such critical issues as:  how to feed a world population exceeding 7 billion and growing; how to secure adequate supplies of water for drinking and irrigation; how to keep the air clean; and, how to secure new sources of energy.”

The College works to address issues like these both inside and outside of the classroom in all of its majors. The College offers strong programs in agriculture, the sciences, and in business and the humanities.

“This commitment to making a difference when it comes to the most pressing issues of our time is not some fad that will be gone tomorrow,” said Redding. “We are building on the reputation of our agricultural programs and elevating all other departments to the same stature, to prepare students to tackle the most important issues of our time.”

Kurst Alstede, a 1985 alumnus of the College, was raised in Chester, N.J., and is a first generation farmer. He founded Alstede Farms, LLC, in 1982.  Alstede Farms cultivates more than 600 acres of land in Chester using sustainable and certified organic farming methods.

“As a first generation farmer, DelVal provided me with a very practical and meaningful agricultural education that has allowed me to prosper personally and professionally on our family-owned farm,” said Alstede. “Our goal in hosting this event is to draw upon the huge community of people in New Jersey and the surrounding area who are engaged in production agriculture, in agribusiness, and who simply love DelVal’s mission. I want to bring people together to learn about the exciting things that are happening at DelVal and provide useful input (for the College) from our industry’s perspective.”

To register, visit the website or email alumni@delval.edu.