Steering Committee

Regina Beidler

regina.beidlerREMOVETHISBEFORESENDING@organicvalley.coop
(802) 728-5601

Regina and her husband, Brent, own and operate a small organic dairy farm in Randolph Center, VT. Regina also works for Organic Valley's Farmers in Marketing Department connecting coop farmer owners to marketing activities around the region.

Richard Berkfield

richardREMOVETHISBEFORESENDING@foodconnects.org
(802)579-1082

Executive Director
Food Connects
foodconnects.org
22 Browne Court
Unit 110
Brattleboro VT, 05301

General Manager
Windham Farm and Food
windhamfarmandfood.com
PO Box 431
Townshend Vermont, 05353

Richard is the co-founder and Executive Director of Food Connects. He has been leading food system development work in the Windham County area since 2008. Richard holds a M.A. from SIT Graduate Institute in Sustainable Development with a focus on Food Security for Vermont, as well as a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Marlboro College Graduate School. Berkfield was named one of Vermont’s Rising Stars by Vermont Business Magazine in 2014. He and his family enjoy growing and preparing as much of their own food as possible, though as work demands increase, he better understand the saying that "The cobbler’s children have no shoes."

Erin Buckwalter

erinREMOVETHISBEFORESENDING@nofavt.org
(802) 434-4122

Direct Marketing & Community Food Security Coordinator
NOFA Vermont
nofavt.org
14 Pleasant Street
Richmond VT, 05477

I work in a variety of roles within the Vermont Food System: with direct marketers providing technical assistance and professional development opportunities; working to increase access to fresh, local food for all Vermonters by coordinating our Farm Share and Farmers' Markets/CSAs food access work; and supporting local food procurement by Vermont institutions through our Farm to Institution work.

Megan Camp

mcampREMOVETHISBEFORESENDING@shelburnefarms.org
802-985-8686

Vice President/Program Director
Shelburne Farms
shelburnefarms.org
1611 Harbor Road
Shelburne VT, 05482


Vermont Farm to School Network
vermontfarmtoschool.org
1611 Harbor Rd
Shelburne Vermont, 05482

Megan Camp serves as Vice President and Program Director at Shelburne Farms providing leadership for organizational and educational program development. Much of her work over her 30 years at the Farm has focused on building public private partnerships to conduct research, influence policy, and build networks to strengthen Education for Sustainability in Vermont and around the world. Megan helped create and facilitate a multi-stakeholder process that resulted in the state of Vermont incorporating the nation’s first education standards for sustainability. She also fostered collaboration between Shelburne Farms and the Burlington School District, which led to the opening of the first public K-5 sustainability-themed magnet school in the country in 2009. Along with the Directors of NOFA Vermont and Food Works at Two Rivers she co-founded Vermont’s nationally recognized Farm to School program VT FEED. She was also a founding board member of the Farm-Based Education Network . Megan currently serves on the boards of the Castanea Foundation, the Vermont Council on Rural Development, the Vermont Fresh Network, and the Energy Action Network. She also serves on the Vermont Sustainable Agriculture Council, the Farm to Plate Steering Committee and the University of Vermont College of Agriculture and Life Sciences advisory board.

Jake Claro

JakeREMOVETHISBEFORESENDING@vsjf.org
(802) 828-5669

Farm to Plate Program Director
Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund
vsjf.org
3 Pitkin Court
Suite 301E
Montpelier VT, 05602

Sarah Danly

sarahREMOVETHISBEFORESENDING@vsjf.org
(802) 828-3745

Farm to Plate Network Manager
Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund
vsjf.org
3 Pitkin Court
Suite 301E
Montpelier VT, 05602

Jean Hamilton

Jean.myung.hamiltonREMOVETHISBEFORESENDING@gmail.com


Plainfield Co-op
plainfieldcoop.com
153 Main Street
Plainfield Vermont, 05667

Ellen Kahler

ellenREMOVETHISBEFORESENDING@vsjf.org
(802) 828-5320

Executive Director
Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund
vsjf.org
3 Pitkin Court
Suite 301E
Montpelier VT, 05602

I assist in coordinating the Farm to Plate Network and our organization is responsible for implementing the Farm to Plate Initiative, at the request of the Vermont Legislature. I serve on the Boards of Red Tomato, the Working Lands Enterprise Fund, and the Sustainable Agriculture Council. I am also active in helping other New England states in developing their own food system plans and implementation efforts.

Faye Mack

fmackREMOVETHISBEFORESENDING@hungerfreevt.org
(802) 865-0255

Advocacy and Education Director
Hunger Free Vermont
hungerfreevt.org
38 Eastwood Drive
Suite 100
South Burlington VT, 05403

John Mandeville

johnREMOVETHISBEFORESENDING@lamoilleeconomy.org
(802) 888-5640

Executive Director
Lamoille Economic Development Corporation
lamoilleeconomy.org
582 Laporte Road
Morrisville VT, 05661

Support and promotion for local agriculture, particularly value-added and sustainable ag and food production through the provision of technical services, financial support through loan and grant programs, assistance with regulatory and permit issues, marketing and promotion help, assistance in writing grant applications to third party providers, providing networking opportunities and running two, local on-line farmer's markets.

Lydia Pitkin

lydiaREMOVETHISBEFORESENDING@vsjf.org
802-828-5670

Office Manager & Program Coordinator
Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund
vsjf.org
3 Pitkin Court
Suite 301E
Montpelier VT, 05602

Betsy Rosenbluth

brosenbluthREMOVETHISBEFORESENDING@shelburnefarms.org
985-8686


Vermont FEED (Food Education Every Day)
vtfeed.org
1611 Harbor Road
Shelburne VT, 05482

Liz Ruffa

lizREMOVETHISBEFORESENDING@merckforest.org
(802) 394-2579

Project Director
Northshire Grows
147 Green Peak Orchard North
East Dorset Vermont, 05253

Liz Ruffa is the Director of Institutional Advancement at Merck Forest & Farmland Center, a 3,200 acre conserved property in Rupert, VT. Merck Forest is on a mission to inspire curiosity, love and responsibility for working and natural lands. Liz lives in East Dorset where she continues to champion regional food systems through her work as a member of the Dorset Select Board.

Gaye Symington

GsymingtonREMOVETHISBEFORESENDING@vermontcf.org
(802) 388-3355

Executive Director
High Meadows Fund
highmeadowsfund.org
77 College St., Suite 3B
Burlington VT, 05401

The High Meadows Fund, based at the Vermont Community Foundation, promotes vibrant communities and a healthy natural environment in Vermont, while encouraging long term economic vitality. We focus on sustainable agriculture and local food systems; clean and efficient energy; and land use and watershed management consistent with a working landscape and vibrant village centers. We provide grants, sponsor research and convenings, invest a portion of our assets for mission impact, and directly engage in select initiatives. You can find more about us at www.highmeadowsfund.org.

Anson Tebbetts

Terry.SmithREMOVETHISBEFORESENDING@vermont.gov

Secretary of Agriculture, Food & Markets
Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets
vermontagriculture.com
116 State Street
Montpelier VT, 05620

State of Vermont Secretary of Agriculture

Graham Unangst-Rufenacht

grahamREMOVETHISBEFORESENDING@ruralvermont.org
802-223-7222


Rural Vermont
ruralvermont.org
46 East State St
Montpelier VT, 05602

Becka Warren

beckaREMOVETHISBEFORESENDING@vitalcommunities.org
(802) 291-9100 x112

Manager
Valley Food and Farm
vitalcommunities.org/Agriculture/index.htm
195 North Main Street
White River Junction VT, 05001

Valley Food and Farm, a program of Vital Communities, works with farmers and consumers to strengthen the food system in Upper Connecticut River Valley of NH and VT.

Abbey Willard

abbey.willardREMOVETHISBEFORESENDING@vermont.gov
(802) 272-2885


Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets
vermontagriculture.com
116 State Street
Montpelier VT, 05620

I actively participate in the Aggregation and Distribution Working Group, Food Access Crosscutting Team, and Farm to Institution Task Force. My position attends to the following aspects related to strengthening VT's food system: farm to institution program development, support for farmers' markets and CSAs, food access issues including EBT at farmers' markets, increasing local food in state government, food hub liaison, and management of the GAPs (Good Agricultural Practices) and local food market development matching grant programs.