Bill Zalakar, Executive Director of the Long Island Farm Bureau, brings more than 45 years of diverse experience in the agricultural industry. His expertise spans horticultural business, regulatory affairs, and personnel management.

Before assuming his current role, Bill served as Director of Facilities and General Manager at Kurt Weiss Greenhouses for 28 years, helping the company become one of the leading horticultural operations in the U.S.

A past President of the Long Island and NYC Farm Bureaus, Bill revitalized key committees and strengthened connections between traditional and urban agriculture. He currently serves on multiple New York Farm Bureau committees, including Promotion & Education, Labor, Membership, and Cannabis/Hemp.

Bill’s dedication to agricultural advancement has earned him numerous honors, including the Horticulture Industry Leadership Award (2020) and the James Quinn Award (2022). A Penn State University graduate, Bill holds a Bachelor of Science in Horticultural Business.