The World 01_31_18

Vermont
Farm Show
Champlain Valley Expo
Essex Junction, VT
Jan. 30-31 &
Feb. 1, 2018
CENTRAL
VERMONT’S
BEST
COUNTRY
A Conversation with Vermont Farm Show Manager,
Jackie Folsom
By Katie Moritz
Why is this show important to the community
and the state of Vermont?
“The Vermont Farm Show offers the opportunity
for agriculturists to learn the latest
technology, check in with USDA programs as
well as State programs and attend organizational
annual meetings that offer educational
components within their fields. It also showcases
job opportunities for young people
looking at a career in agriculture and in general
promotes a positive and energetic image
of our industry. It also offers consumers and
others who are just curious about agriculture
to visit with our professionals and ask questions
and learn who we are and why we are
important to the State of Vermont.”
What do you think is the most interesting
historical fact about the founding of the
Vermont Farm Show?
“The Farm Show began as a strong collaboration
between the leading associations
of the time and included not only dairy and
maple but turkeys, potatoes and baby chicks!
The most interesting thing I’ve found looking
through all the old brochures is that the
Vermont Dairymens’ Association, which is
now Vermont Dairy Industry Association,
held segregated meetings for the “farmers”
and their wives - the women had their own
booth space and speakers.”
How has the show changed and evolved
over the years?
“I think the biggest change came with the
moves; after the show traveled, more exhibitors
came on board and live animals were
exhibited by the Breeds Association. I
remember staffing the Vermont Guernsey
Breeders Booth in the ice area - BRRR! - and
looking at the llamas in the basement of the
auditorium. Moving to Essex Junction
allowed all the agricultural organization meetings
to occur in the same building as well as
greatly expand the equipment displays, both
This prestigious award recognizes an
exemplary farm that demonstrates overall
excellence in dairying and is a good ambassador
for the dairy industry. It is sponsored by
the New England Green Pastures Program,
and in Vermont, awarded by University of
Vermont Extension and the Vermont Dairy
Industry Association (VDIA). Each of the
other New England states also selects a winner.
Nominations will be accepted until April
27. Information about the program, last year’s
recipient and a link to the nomination form
can be found at http://go.uvm.edu/vdfya. Or
call Peggy Manahan at (800) 639-2130 with
questions or to request a copy of the form.
Farms that have been nominated previously,
but did not win, may be nominated again.
The judging committee, comprised of past
winners, will visit each farm to tour the
operation and interview the family. Nominees
will be evaluated on a number of criteria
including their overall farm management,
milk quality, crop production and pasture
quality, innovative practices and land stewardship,
including environmental practices.
The judges also will consider community
service, including activities promoting the
dairy industry and participation in agricultural
organizations.
The New England Green Pastures Program
evolved from a challenge issued in 1947 by
New Hampshire Governor Charles Dale. “I
challenge the other New England states to
• • •
inside and out. We were also able to expand
our exhibitors’ offerings by quite a bit!”
What does the Farm Show mean to
you?
“My husband and I moved to Vermont in
1985 and in 1986 we attended the Farm Show
in Barre and watched on TV monitors as the
shuttle Challenger exploded in the sky. The
outpouring of emotion from those folks in the
ice arena as the explosion played over and
over made me realize that this was a community
I wanted to be a part of. I worked in the
Cabot Creamery Booth for several years, as
well as milk promotion - for several years, we
made a huge ice cream sundae in a sugaring
pan and handed out samples during what
passed as Consumer Night. Then I got
involved in agritourism and hosted the VT
Farms Booth in the auditorium hallway - the
highlight of our week was when Governor
Douglas used to come for the Dairy Banquet
and ask us to watch his coat. I also worked in
the Vermont Farm Bureau booth and the
Nationwide booth and somewhere along the
line was asked to be the Farm Show board
member. When we moved the Show to Essex
Junction, the manager - Jon Turmel -
announced he was leaving the next year, and
they asked me to take a shot at it. This is my
6th year! I really enjoy the vendors - we’ve
gotten to know each other and how we work,
and it’s just a joy to see them year after year.
I have a great team behind me. Many
thanks to Glenn Rogers and Dave Adams, my
Floor Managers, as well as Nan Howe who
handles the website and our newest member,
Steve Mease who is doing Facebook and
Twitter. And also, many thanks to so many
exhibitors who have returned year after year
to support our show and make it grow!”
UVM Extension Seeks Nominations of
Outstanding Dairy Farms
produce better pastures than New Hampshire,
and I bet a hat that they can’t do it,” he
exclaimed, eliciting a flurry of responses.
Three thousand farmers entered that first
competition. The field was narrowed down to
18 finalists, three from each state. A
Wallingford, Connecticut, farmer took top
honors for the region. Dale paid the wager
with a top hat, which he presented to
Connecticut Governor James McConaughy
before a capacity crowd at Eastern States
Exposition in West Springfield,
Massachusetts.
In 1961 selection of a regional winner was
eliminated and instead each state named its
own outstanding dairy farm. Today the state
winners are no longer chosen on the “greenness
of their pastures” although the tradition
of official recognition at the “Big E” continues
with an awards banquet and presentation
of a silver pitcher to each recipient. Vermont
winners also are honored guests at the VDIA
annual meeting and at the farmer luncheon at
the Vermont Farm Show in Essex Junction.
The 2017 recipient was Fairmont Farm, a
1,600-head Holstein operation, owned by
Richard and Bonnie Hall and their nephew
Tucker Purchase, which includes farms in
East Montpelier and Craftsbury. Other recent
winners were Kirk and Katrina Lanphear,
who milk 440 cows in Hyde Park, and Les
and Claire Pike of Stowe, who own Keewaydin
Farm, a registered Jersey farm in Stowe.
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January 24, 2018 The WORLD page 3
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