PARIS — The Oxford County Farm Bureau hosted Maine Farm Bureau President Robert Hammond at the annual meeting on Oct. 21 at the First Congregational Church of South Paris.

County Farm Bureau President David Carter introduced Hammond, who farms in Washington County, producing cranberries, blueberries, grapes and mushrooms as well as other vegetables. Hammond discussed over-regulation of farms across the country and recently enacted laws.

Maine Farm Bureau is a grassroots organization made up of farmers and people who want to support agriculture. The bureau monitors bills being introduced to the state legislature.

Bureau Executive Director Jon Olson, who attended the meeting, informs farmers about the bills. He said since Maine Farm Bureau was formed 60 years ago, there have been many beneficial laws protecting farmers’ rights and their ability to make a decent living, and some bills have been defeated that would have made farming more difficult and over-regulated.

Hammond said Maine’s Farm Bureau membership is dropping and Maine is fourth from the bottom of all the state farm bureaus. He warned that if membership continues to drop, MFB “may become unsustainable within 10 years.”

Doreen Simmons, a sheep farmer from South Paris, stressed the need for new members “so we don’t loose what we have.”

Another meeting is planned for 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 16, at the First Congregational Church of South Paris. A meal will be served at a cost of $5.

All Oxford County Farm Bureau members are invited and encouraged to bring a potential member with them. RSVP to Carla Phillips at 674-3862 or Ann Carter at 539-4848 so the number of meals can be planned.

Anyone wanting more information about Maine Farm Bureau may call 1-800-639-2126 or go to www.mainefarmbureau.com.