Last Wednesday, nine staff from five Northern Vermont Natural Resources Conservation Districts (NRCDs) went on a tour of two dairy barns in Enosburg and Fairfield in Franklin County, Vermont. The Board Supervisors of the Franklin County Natural Resources Conservation District generously volunteered their time, barns, expertise, and years of wisdom from working on, around, and with Franklin County dairies.
Conservation District staff joined four of the Franklin County NRCD Board Supervisors - Philip Parent, Molly Magnan, Richard Noel, and Carissa Stein - who answered questions, talked about equipment, shared about the opportunities for conservation, taught about the life cycles of dairy cows, and explained a bit about the economic pressures involved in farming in Vermont today.
The group started at Parent's Riverside Farm and ended the day at the Magnan Bros. Dairy. Everyone in attendance, Supervisors included, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to ask questions freely, learn from peers and experienced farmers, and see first-hand different scale and farm models. With this experience, NRCD staff aim to continue to learn and understand how to better serve the agricultural communities in each District for a thriving working landscape across Vermont.
During cropping season, a similar event will be organized for District staff to learn about the field operations involved in dairy farming.
Thank you to our Supervisors and incredible farmers in Franklin County for being willing to teach the next generation!
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