VFFC is proud to host a panel of experienced and visionary agricultural change-makers for an important discussion about the future of agriculture in Vermont and the role that organic agriculture will play.  

There will be a meet and greet with light refreshments at 5:30PM followed by the panel discussion at 6:15PM.

Farmer and VFFC board president, Greg Cox will moderate the panel, followed by Q&A at the end. 

The new Root Words Bill Clark mural and the Vermont Folk Life Center's "Growing food growing farmers" exhibit will be on display, framing Vermont's agricultural history and future.  

PEG TV will be filming the event for broadcast.  

We are requiring that audience members mask for this event.

Panelists:

Roger Allbee

He's been a cranberry exporter, an agricultural banker, a congressional staffer in Washington, DC, Secretary of the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets, and CEO of the Grace Cottage Family Healthcare and Hospital in Townshend.

Last year he received the Vermont Lifetime Achievement Award from the Vermont Council on Rural Development.

Vernon Grubinger

Extension Professor Dr. Vern Grubinger is the Vegetable and Berry Specialist at the University of Vermont. He has provided technical advice and conducted applied research with farmers for over 30 years. Vern also serves as Director of USDA's Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program.

James H. Maroney Jr.

A former dairy farmers who argues for a state-managed complete conversion to organic for Vermont’s dairy farms.

Philip Ackerman-Liest

Philip Ackerman-Leist is the co-founder and Executive Director of Regen by Design (RxD), a new online education and community-building platform focused on regenerative communities, with food and agriculture at the center. For two decades, Philip was Professor of Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems at Green Mountain College, where he established the college's 23-acre organic farm, designed and launched the undergraduate program in Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems, and founded and directed the nation’s first online graduate program in food systems.

Mia Brown and Phil Prevosto

Both were part of the last class of Green Mountain College. Mia is an Education major and Phil majored in organic agriculture.  They represent Rutland’s new farmers with high hopes for the future.