Seven Students Awarded for Commitment to Vermont’s Working Landscape

[EditorBob]

Seven Students Awarded for Commitment to Vermont’s Working Landscape

People who work the land are critical to the future of farms and forestlands throughout the state. In particular, it is today’s young people who hold the key to the future viability of these industries. That is why the Vermont Land Trust developed the Land Stewards Award—to recognize high school juniors and seniors who have demonstrated a commitment to working and stewarding the land. It is these individuals who will preserve Vermont’s working landscapes and unique character in the years to come.

This spring the Vermont Land Trust awarded seven students from across the state for their commitment to agriculture, forestry, and land stewardship. The students, who are graduating from Vermont’s technical and career centers, received $250 each.

“We here at the Vermont Land Trust are proud to honor these students for their commitment to excellence in land stewardship,” said Gil Livingston, president of the Vermont Land Trust. “Whether it be through their hard work on the family’s farm, or in the sugarbush or woodlot, these students were chosen for their outstanding work ethic and leadership in their field. The future of our farm and forest economy depends on students like these.”

A fund for the award was created in 2004 in recognition of Kathleen O’Dell’s service as Vice President of Community Relations at the land trust. Kathy was instrumental in the early planning for the award program and devoted much of her life’s work and passion toward advancing education, outdoor recreation, and land conservation.

The students who received the 2010 Land Stewards Award:

Jordan St. Pierre, Enosburg Falls
Jordan is graduating from the Cold Hollow Career Center. He lives on his family’s dairy farm, Center View Farm, which also has a sugaring operation that Jordan is expanding. In the past two years, Jordan has set mainline and tubing, tapped 7,000 trees, and sold the sap to a neighboring sugarmaker. “Jordan's passion, dedication, and skills for developing the family's 7,000-tap sugarbush are remarkable for someone who is only 17 years old,” said Sarah Downes, his agricultural science teacher. Jordon will be attending Paul Smith’s College for their forestry program.

Travis Franklin, Vernon
Travis is graduating from the Windham Regional Career Center. He lives and works on his family’s organic dairy farm, the Miller Farm. They milk 120 cows that are primarily fed with feed grown on the farm. Travis is responsible for much of the field work, including plowing, planting, baling hay, and cultivating corn. Travis’s forestry instructor, Dennis Hamilton, nominated him for the award based on Travis’s outstanding work ethic, farming knowledge, and positive attitude. After graduating, Travis will work on the family farm and possibly pursue training as a certified machine operator.

Lewis Fox, Leicester
Lewis is graduating from the Hannaford Career Center, where he is enrolled in the Agribusiness Program. He lives and works on his family’s organic dairy farm, Taconic End Farm, where he is involved in many of the day-to-day operations and decisions. Lewis worked with his family to transition the farm to organic and is also working to diversify the farm’s products. He plans to expand the sugarbush from 80 taps to 500. “I love working outside and working for myself,” says Lewis. “I’ve got a strong attachment to Vermont and Addison County. Working on the land is a big thing for me.” Lewis was the 2008 Addison County 4-H Member of the Year and was the FFA chapter president for the Middlebury FFA in 2009-10. In the fall, Lewis will attend Vermont Technical College in their new Diversified Agriculture baccalaureate program. After college, he will return to the family farm.

Brandon Mattison, Shaftsbury
Brandon is graduating from the Southwest Vermont Career and Development Center. He was very active in managing a municipal woodlot that his class had under contract: he marked the land for a timber cut and then mastered the Game of Logging tree felling techniques. His forestry instructor, David Dence, recommended him based on these experiences and skills in addition to his work ethic and leadership skills. Brandon will be working on two majors at Paul Smith’s College: Forest Technology and Urban Tree Management.

Donovan Steele, Brownington
Donovan is graduating from Lake Region Union High School. He lives and works on his family’s conserved organic dairy farm, Notchview Farm. He’s active in the Lake Region FFA and at this year’s state convention was awarded the Master Milker award. After graduation, Donovan plans to work on the farm full-time. At that time, his family will increase the size of their herd.

Levi Chase, Hardwick
Levi is graduating from the Green Mountain Technical Center. He has proven to be an outstanding student in the forestry program. In addition to playing an important role in managing the school’s 1,100-tap maple operation, Levi also has his own sugaring operation. According to his forestry instructor, Marc Luneau, during sugaring season, Levi would come into school on nights and weekends to work, and when finished, he would go home and take care of his own sugaring operation. Levi, an excellent chainsaw mechanic, also does independent logging jobs and helps landowners with property management decisions. He currently works for New England Tree Experts as part of a work co-operative; he plans to work for the company after graduation.

Sage Roys, Springfield
Sage is graduating from the River Valley Technical Center. He has worked in the woods from a young age, helping his father with logging and forestry work. Over the past few years, he has been working to establish his own sugarbush operation. His hard work extends to his studies in the Horticulture and Natural Resource Program, where he has been an excellent student. Sage also has his own property management business and helps landowners maintain their woodlots, orchards, and residences. After graduating, Sage plans on expanding his sugaring operation and logging work with his father.