Lauren Sharp Looks To Continue To Promote Area Agriculture
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Lauren Sharp, who works with the Chautauqua County Department of Planning and Development as a Junior Planner, has spent her career focused on agriculture and protecting farmland in Chautauqua County.
Sharp's main work is with the Chautauqua County Agricultural and Farmland Protection Board as a liaison to help move projects forward.
"The AFPB's mission is to enhance the economic viability of the agricultural industry and to preserve and protect the viable farmland in Chautauqua County," Sharp said. "The AFPB oversees the Chautauqua County Agricultural Districts program. Currently Ag. District 7 is under review. There is also a yearly inclusion period in Jan. for the Ag. Districts. The AFPB and the County Legislature recently adopted the Chautauqua County Agricultural Development and Enhancement Strategy as the County's Agricultural and Farmland Protection Plan in May of 2022."
Sharp also works with other agriculture related entities such as the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Snowmobile Trail Grant Program. Doing this, she works with local snowmobile clubs to ensure their trail development and maintenance is meeting the state's requirements so they can stay eligible for state funding. Both of these jobs involve geographic information system work, so Sharp also spends time doing mapping work for these and for other projects in the department.
A main reason that Sharp decided she wanted to do this job is because of her background in Chautauqua County.
"I grew up in Chautauqua County," Sharp said. "While I traveled to five counties while in college and really enjoyed it, I knew I wanted to work and live in a rural community. After I finished my Bachelor's degree I came home to Chautauqua County. It took me over seven years to find my current position. Since the Department of Planning and Development covers a wide range of programming I was able to use skills I had acquired from my education and previous positions to succeed in my current position. When I was first hired I did not know my position would be working so closely with agriculture. Having worked with farms in some capacity for almost 15 years, this part of my position comes naturally to me. The diversity of my jobs makes every day different and keeps me on my toes."
Sharp said a lot of people do not understand what the Department of Planning and Development does. She explained that the department is required to facilitate state and county mandated projects.
"Both the AFPB and the snowmobile grant are mandated projects," Sharp said. "In addition the Department is required to oversee the Chautauqua County Planning Board including General Municipal Law 239-m Referrals and the County Capital Projects Review, Chautauqua County Food Policy Council, Chautauqua County Shared Services, Occupancy Tax Program for Tourism and Watershed and managing community contacts. The Department also has discretionary services which may include serving on boards and councils, assistance to municipalities and residents, grant writing, plan development, plan implantation, and municipality outreach and engagement. Every day is different depending on what projects get funding, collaborations with community partners to help stretch resources, information requests, and more."
Additionally, Sharp said the department also originates programs and activities aimed at improving the community, economy and quality of life in Chautauqua County. They also support municipalities by providing training, resources, or letters of support.
Besides working, Sharp likes to spend time with her family and be outdoors.
"We recently completed the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy's 2022 Wandering Chautauqua's Watersheds and the 2021 Western New York Winter Hiking Challenge," Sharp said. "We are currently working on the Allegany State Park Centennial Seven."
So far, Sharp said her proudest achievement is her education, graduating from Cassadaga Valley Central School in 2010, and Jamestown Community College in 2012.
"I was the first to graduate with Jamestown Community College's Environmental Science Associate Degree in 2012," Sharp said. "I also left JCC with two other associate degrees and went on to get my Bachelor's in natural resources in 2014 and eventually my Master's degree in 2018."
In the future, Sharp said she hopes to continue to do work with the public sector, connecting people to available resources and building relationships in the county.
"I also want to continue to help promote and educate about agriculture as a viable economic driver in Chautauqua County," Sharp said.