Laurie McBride Becomes Long Island Farm Bureau President, Prioritizes Farmer Engagement

Laurie McBride, 44, of Mattituck was elected the 25th president of the Long Island Farm Bureau in October, becoming the second woman to hold the position and the first woman at the bureau’s helm in a decade. McBride takes the role after six years on the LIFB board of directors and one year serving as vice president.

Raised in a Riverhead farm family, McBride is listed on the LIFB executive roster as representing fruit operations in Mattituck. Her elevation to president follows a long roster of board service and positions on the 2025–26 leadership team that lists Dennis Limonius of East Hampton as vice president, Karl Auwaerter of Bayport as secretary, Dominick Bruno of Manorville as treasurer, and Ryan Andoos of Moriches as state board representative.

McBride named preservation and sustainability of working waterfronts as a top priority, pointing to aquaculture operations and marinas now eligible for protection under a Suffolk County land preservation program. “We have to coordinate our efforts with those hoping to preserve these properties with people who are looking for a piece of land. The bureau can kind of help people connect the dots with what they are trying to do,” she said.

She also emphasized recruiting and supporting a new generation of East End farmers, noting the region’s agricultural density and variety. “We have a very dense area of farms and we’re one of the most diverse areas of agriculture in New York State in terms of what’s being produced,” McBride said, citing Long Island sectors that include the greenhouse industry, nurseries, specialty crops, dairy, cattle, poultry and winery production.

Economic data underline those priorities: a 2024 U.S. Department of Agriculture report shows Suffolk County leading New York State in nursery and greenhouse sales, sod and aquaculture with $239 million in sales, and Long Island aquaculture alone accounting for about $9.2 million. At the same time, the profile of local agriculture notes farming remains “a tough business,” with property taxes and labor costs on the increase.

The Long Island Farm Bureau identifies itself as a grassroots organization representing diverse farmers on Long Island; its office can be reached at (631) 727-3777 and by email at admin@lifb.com. The bureau’s board usually meets the third Monday of every month. The LIFB 2025–26 board of directors includes named producers such as Giovanni Borghese of Cutchogue (wine), Jacob Friebusch of Cutchogue (oysters), Les Howard of Southold (vegetables), Eve Kaplan of Riverhead (vegetables) and Bennett McCombe of Riverhead (fruit), among others.

McBride assumes the presidency with specific goals: link land-preservation opportunities to prospective farm owners and bolster the pipeline of East End farmers while navigating rising costs and leveraging the island’s $239 million nursery, greenhouse, sod and aquaculture economy.