Posted by The Republican Newsroom February 10, 2008 12:24PM

By JOHN APPLETONjappleton@repub.comBELCHERTOWN - After focusing mostly on farms in town during its first year, the Agricultural Commission is devoting attention this year on those who own horse stables and provide services to the many people in Belchertown who own horses. ”I see it as the next step,” said Grace M. Adzima, who is co-chair of the commission established in 2006 by the Town Meeting. ”There are several commercial operations and there are well over 100 people who own horses in Belchertown. We still have enough land that people can have a horse in their back yard,” Adzima said. Last year, the Agricultural Commission published a directory of farms in town and came up with different ways to bring farmers together to talk about steps that could be taken to help them survive and prosper at a time when economic difficulties and development are wiping out many small farms, particularly in the Northeast. Adzima said the commission will continue doing what it can with those who raise crops and livestock on their farms but will branch out to work with two other major groups, focusing on those who own stables and horses this year and reaching out more to those in the logging business next year. The commission will conduct a gathering of people who own horses or run equine businesses Feb. 22 at 7 p.m. in Town Hall. It will feature a discussion of winter horse care and serve as a forum for learning more about the needs and goals of those involved, much as the January meetings of farmers have the past two years.  Read the full article at http://blog.masslive.com/breakingnews/2008/02/towns_focuses_on_horse_service.html