2004 – CISA – Community Involved In Sustaining Agriculture

Diane Mason, Farm Family Insurance

CISA — Thu, 01 Jan 2004 22:35:38 +0000

2004 Local Hero Awardee

Diane has spent the last two decades helping farmers in Hampden County with insurance needs and state and federal regulations. She has supported the Farm Bureau, CISA and other agricultural organizations, and local farmers. A farmer who has received assistance from Diane said, “She always goes the extra mile for us.”

Dan Kaplan, Brookfield Farm

CISA — Thu, 01 Jan 2004 22:33:00 +0000

2004 Local Hero Awardee

Dan has made Brookfield Farm sustainable and productive; he has served as a mentor to many beginning farmers through apprenticeships; and he has developed databases for all farmers to use to track production and analyze harvests. He is a Local Hero participant and active supporter of CISA.

Ron Prokopy, Entemology Professor at UMass Amherst

CISA — Thu, 01 Jan 2004 22:29:31 +0000

2004 Local Hero Awardee

(Posthumously awarded)

Ron Prokopy (1936-2004) served fruit farmers for 40 years before his sudden death in May. He conducted groundbreaking research on Integrated Pest Management systems, invented “sticky traps” for apple growers – a low cost, organic and effective tool for controlling pests on apples; and supported CISA and other agricultural organizations working to sustain agriculture.