Rebuilding the Vermont Farm Show

A new mission and vision, a change of federal in tax-status, AND the rebuilding of an organization and beloved event.

After five months of gathering stakeholder input earlier this year, the Vermont Farm Show’s Board of Directors voted to keep the organization alive. With that vote, comes a lot of work. 

The Board is building a new organization, one to ensure the return of an event that supports Vermont’s diverse agricultural enterprises and land-based economy well into the future. As its first actions, the organization set a goal to hold a renewed show in 2027, is changing its federal tax status so tax-deductible donations can be used to support its work, and adopted a new mission and vision.

The Vermont Farm Show’s new mission is to build knowledge and community among farmers and the general public while celebrating Vermont’s diverse agricultural sector. The organization’s new vision reads:

The Vermont Farm Show is an event for everyone. The Show provides individuals with the opportunity to 1) learn, see, and taste the variety of agricultural products our state has to offer, 2) engage in learning and hands-on experiences, 3) share individual experiences, and 4) enjoy time with family and friends all while serving to advance Vermont’s diverse agricultural industry.

The Board has outlined the Vermont Farm Show’s key purpose going forward includes these five actions:

Gather – all people together in a celebration of Vermont agriculture

Educate – everyone, including farmers and future farmers to support a vibrant and diverse agricultural sector in Vermont

Engage – all people through sharing access to resources and providing visibility to the variety of products produced by Vermont’s farmers

Enhance – Vermont’s agricultural activities by highlighting services and resources, and creating connections and access to information

Ensure – a diverse agricultural future for Vermont through embracing all types and scales of agriculture, and educating people of opportunities to support Vermont farmers and farming

And, as a final note, the Board set two essential objectives:

1. Hold an Annual Show that:

• Provides everyone the opportunity to Taste, Touch, Teach, Learn, and Buy through providing hands-on access to the bounty of Vermont agricultural products and practices
• Invites all farmers to share and learn in community to strengthen individual and industry operations in support of Vermont’s diverse agricultural enterprises
• Supports youth engagement, education, and empowerment to help ensure a strong agricultural future in Vermont
• Highlights diverse service providers so that current and aspiring farmers, and the public has access to information and resources to grow Vermont’s agricultural sector

2. Be a self-sustaining organization that generates earned and contributed revenue, and leverages reciprocal partnerships

    

For more information and Vermont Farm Show history, visit www.vtfarmshow.com