Larry is actively involved in CAFO planning and CNMP/AWMP nutrient management planning systems. He is a certified crop advisor (CCA, 4R Nutrient Mgnt) and a voting member of the National Alliance of Independent Crop Consultants (NAICC). Larry and Heather’s oldest son, Matthew, also a CCA - works alongside his parents in the consulting business and specializes in precision technologies and GIS innovations as well as crop consulting. 

The Eckhardt Family also owns and operates a diversified vegetable/cash crop/beef cattle operation in the Rensselaer County town of Stephentown. Kinderhook Creek Farm, LLC. consists of approximately 1200 acres of owned and rented land.

The Eckhardt family, Larry and his wife Heather, sons Matthew (34) and Andrew (30), and many full and part-time employees raise 200 acres of fresh market sweet corn, 300 acres of grain corn, 525 acres of hay, 245 acres of small grains (oats, triticale, rye, and barley), and 25 acres of misc. vegetable crops. The farm staff also custom plants and harvests 550 acres of corn and small grains for other area farms in Rensselaer County, Columbia County, and Berkshire County in neighboring Massachusetts. Vegetable crops are marketed wholesale throughout the Northeast and in the Metropolitan New York City and Boston areas. 

Larry is a 1976 Graduate of SUNY Cobleskill in Agronomy/Plant Science and a 1980 Graduate of Cornell University with degree in Agronomy and Ag Economics/Farm Business Management. In 2009, Larry was the recipient of the Outstanding Alumni Award for the College of Ag & Life Sciences at Cornell.

Larry has also received many commendations for his service to the New York Ag industry and service to his community. Matthew is a 2007 graduate of SUNY Cobleskill and 2009 graduate of Cornell University in Agricultural Sciences. 

Larry's present leadership roles include: Board of Directors of New York State Vegetable Growers Assn., Board Member of Capital District Market Cooperative and Ordained Elder and Clerk of Session of Presbyterian Congregation of the Stephentown Federated Church. Larry’s hobby is beekeeping – a skill he learned while attending Cornell. 

Larry’s past leadership commitments were: President – New York State Vegetable Growers - 19 years; Founding Director of NYFVI (New York Farm Viability Institute-12 years; Rensselaer County Ag Program Committee for Cooperative Extension; USDA/FSA State Committee; Member and Graduate of Class II of the Empire State Food and Ag Leadership Institute (LEADNY), Board Member LEADNY-6 years; Supervisor for Town of Stephentown-12 years; Town Councilman-Stephentown, 10 years.