Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) was recently named to the 2014 Circle of Friends by the New York Farm Bureau. Hawley graciously accepted the honor and thanked the Farm Bureau for recognizing his hard work advocating for agriculture during his time in the legislature.

“I would like to thank the New York Farm Bureau for this recognition,” Hawley said. “My district in Western New York contains many farms and many families in my area that sell crops as a primary or secondary source of income. It is of the utmost importance to me that we support legislation that will enhance farmers’ abilities to expand their businesses and sell their products on a wider scale. Farms remain a driving force in New York State and a facet of our economy that we cannot take for granted.”

The Circle of Friends designation is based primarily on a legislator’s willingness to introduce bills that bolster the farming economy and support or vote against legislation concurrent with the New York Farm Bureau’s policies. Hawley is the former owner and operator of Hawley Farms and has also served as President of the Genesee County Farm Bureau.