)LUHĂ€JKWHUV
Triple Eagle
State champs
See photos and rosters from all 20 ORFDO ÀUH GHSDUWPHQWV SOXV VWRULHV LQ RXU VDOXWH WR ÀUHÀJKWHUV
A Panton Scout is following in the steps of his father and grandfather. See Page 3A.
Swimmers from Vergennes and 0LGGOHEXU\ WRRN ÀUVW SODFH LQ HYHQWV at the state meet. See Page 1B.
ADDISON COUNTY
INDEPENDENT Vol. 68 No. 32
Middlebury, Vermont
â—†
Thursday, August 7, 2014 â—†
56 Pages
75¢
UVM  is  training  next  generation  of  farmers Ag  youth  learn  the  basics  of  business
CASSANDRA  MANNING,  14,  of  Brandon  saddles  up  atop  Scotty  before  heading  to  the  competition  ring  at  the  Addison  County  Fair  and  Field  Days  Tuesday  afternoon.  Field  Days  runs  through  Saturday,  Aug.  9,  in  New  Haven.  For  more  photos  see  Page  13A. Independent  photo/Trent  Campbell
Field Days is here!
Investors  on  motorcycles  look  to  spur  local  business
Kids, animals, food and fun By  PHOEBE  LEWIS 1(: +$9(1 ² )RU $OH[LV 2XHOOHWWH RI :H\EULGJH WKH $G- GLVRQ &RXQW\ )DLU DQG )LHOG 'D\V PHDQV PRUH WKDQ PDSOH GRQXWV DQG WKH )HUULV ZKHHO Ouellette,  along  with  throngs  of  FKLOGUHQ DQG WHHQV IURP DJH WKUHH to  18,  participates  in  the  4-ÂH  Dairy  Cattle  competitions  that  form  an  integral  part  of  the  agricultural  fair  experience.  This  summer  Ouel- OHWWH KDG D SDUWLFXODUO\ successful  series  of  VKRZLQJV OHDGLQJ XS WR )LHOG 'D\V FXOPLQDWLQJ with  her  winter  yearling  Holstein,  Twirley,  winning  )LUVW LQ &ODVV GXULQJ :HGQHV- GD\ÂśV VKRZLQJV DQG KHU IRXU \HDU ROG -HUVH\ /XQD ZLQQLQJ WKH VDPH title  for  another  class.  $QG ZKLOH 2XHOOHWWH ZDV SOHDVHG WR ZLQ )LUVW LQ &ODVV VKH ZDV WKULOOHG ZKHQ /XQD ODWHU ZRQ 5H- VHUYHG 6HQLRU &KDPSLRQ DQG ZDV QDPHG *UDQG &KDPSLRQ IRU WKH -HUVH\ EUHHG Âł,W IHHOV JUHDW ´ VKH VDLG Âł, KRQ- estly  wasn’t  expecting  it  because  /XQD LV D SUHWW\ PDWXUH FRZ ´ 7KH WK DQQXDO IDLU RSHQHG
7XHVGD\ PRUQLQJ ZLWK WKH XVXDO PL[ RI H[FLWHPHQW DQG QHUYRXV DQ- WLFLSDWLRQ IURP WKH RUJDQL]HUV YHQ- GRUV DQG \RXQJVWHUV OLNH 2XHOOHWWH GRLQJ ODVW PLQXWH SUHSDUDWLRQV before  showing  their  animals.  The  IDLU UXQV WKURXJK 6DWXUGD\ HYH- QLQJ ZKHQ WKHUH ZLOO EH ¿UHZRUNV DW GXVN DQG WKH PLGZD\ ZLOO FORVH DURXQG S P 2QH RI WKH ¿UVW FKDQJH fairgoers  will  notice  this  \HDU LV WKH LQWURGXF- WLRQ RI ZULVWEDQGV RU bracelets)  that  are  be- LQJ LVVXHG DW WKH JDWHV LQVWHDG RI KDQG VWDPSV Everyone  will  have  a  bracelet  put  on  their  wrist  DIWHU SD\LQJ WKH JDWH DGPLV- VLRQ RU VXUUHQGHULQJ WKHLU FRPSOL- PHQWDU\ RU SXUFKDVHG SDVV ,Q DGGLWLRQ VL[ KD\ VWUXFWXUHV KDYH EHHQ FUHDWHG DQG DUH ORFDWHG DORQJVLGH WKH IHQFH QH[W WR WKH WLFNHW ERRWKV 7KH PDLQ DGPLVVLRQ JDWH ZLOO QRZ EH RII WKH PLGGOH RI the  main  parking  lot,  across  from  the  Lucien  D.  Paquette  Exhibit  %XLOGLQJ 7KH XSSHU JDWH E\ WKH PLGZD\ ULGHV LV FORVHG WKLV \HDU Other  than  those  changes,  the  (See  The  fair,  Page  16A)
By  ZACH  DESPART LQ 9HUPRQW DQG WKULYH LQ 9HUPRQW ´ ADDISON  COUNTY  â&#x20AC;&#x201D;  Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  no  VDLG $OL =LSSDUR WKH SURJUDP FRRU- secret  that  Vermontâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  farmers  are  ag- GLQDWRU ing,  but  a  program  run  by  the  Uni- (DFK VWXGHQW IDUPHU VDYHV PRQH\ versity  of  Vermont  Extension  aims  along  the  way.  The  program  matches  WR LQMHFW QHZ EORRG LQWR WKH VWDWHÂśV WKH VWXGHQWVÂś VDYLQJV DW D UDWH RI EDFNERQH LQGXVWU\ up  to  $1,000,  for  the  purchase  of  a  1H[W ZHHN VWXGHQWV IURP farm  asset.  DFURVV WKH VWDWH ZLOO JUDGXDWH LQ WKH *HYU\ JUDGXDWHG IURP 9HU- inaugural  class  of  the  gennes  Union  High  UVM  Center  for  Sus- â&#x20AC;&#x153;Anyone can School  this  past  June.  tainable  Agricultureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  no  stranger  to  put animals in Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  <RXWK $JULFXOWXUDO ,QGL- farming  â&#x20AC;&#x201D;  his  family  YLGXDO 'HYHORSPHQW $F- their backyard UDQ D GDLU\ XQWLO VHOOLQJ count  program,  known  and call it a LWV PLONLQJ KHUG LQ as  Youth  Ag  IDA.  That  farm, but once The  Gevrys  still  own  JURXS LQFOXGHV WZR $G- WKH ODQG DQG UHQW LW RXW GLVRQ &RXQW\ UHVLGHQWV you can market Gevry  currently  owns  ² (WKDQ *HYU\ RI $G- yourself and EHHI FRZV DQG KH JURZV GLVRQ DQG 6LUL 6ZDQVRQ make money, hay  with  his  father. of  Orwell. The  younger  Gevry  youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re golden.â&#x20AC;? The  program  is  for  ¿UVW VDZ D SRVWLQJ DERXW â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Siri Swanson the  Youth  Ag  IDA  pro- young  Vermonters,  ages  14  to  21,  who  are  in- JUDP RQOLQH DQG VDLG WHUHVWHG LQ SXUVXLQJ D FDUHHU LQ DJ- KLV DGYLVHUV ZLWK )XWXUH )DUPHUV RI riculture.  In  the  one-Âyear  program,  $PHULFD HQFRXUDJHG KLP WR HQUROO VWXGHQWV OHDUQ ÂżQDQFLDO OLWHUDF\ DQG *HYU\ VDLG KH DQG WKH RWKHU VWXGHQWV business  management  skills. OHDUQHG KRZ WR UXQ D IDUP OLNH DQ\ Âł6WDUWLQJ HDUO\ ZLWK ÂżQDQFLDO OLWHU- other  business. DF\ D VWURQJ EDFNJURXQG LQ EXVLQHVV Âł:H OHDUQHG WR PDNH D EXVLQHVV management,  access  to  our  stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  plan  with  the  help  of  webinars  that  QHWZRUN RI IDUP VHUYLFH SURYLGHUV ZH ZDWFKHG DV ZHOO DV ÂżQDQFLDO will  ensure  our  next  generations  of  SODQQLQJ DQG KRZ WR EXGJHW \RXU (See  Farmers,  Page  12A) farmers  will  start  in  Vermont,  stay Â
ALEXIS  OUELLETTE  OF  Weybridge,  who  has  been  showing  cows  at  Field  Days  for  a  decade,  holds  Luna,  who  was  named  Grand  Champion  Jersey  Wednesday. Independent  photo/Phoebe  Lewis
By  WEYLAND  JOYNER WULS ZDV D ZD\ WR EULQJ DGYLFH QHW- MIDDLEBURY  â&#x20AC;&#x201D;  A  group  of  ZRUNLQJ RSSRUWXQLWLHV DQG SRWHQWLDO ELNHUV UXPEOHG LQWR WRZQ RQ WKHLU LQYHVWRUV WR HQWUHSUHQHXUV LQ XQGHU- PRWRUF\FOHV 0RQGD\ PRUQLQJ ZLWK VHUYHG SDUWV RI 9HUPRQW a  unique  goal  â&#x20AC;&#x201D;  to  â&#x20AC;&#x153;In  smaller  commu- hear  pitches  from  en- â&#x20AC;&#x153;In smaller nities,  entrepreneurs  WUHSUHQHXUV DQG RZQ- have  a  smaller  number  ers  of  business  startups  communities, of  people  to  talk  to.  The  ORRNLQJ IRU DGYLFH DQG entrepreneurs thought  process  is  to  capital.  The  group  that  have a smaller help  those  entrepreneurs  JDWKHUHG DW WKH 0LGGOH- number of PDNH FRQQHFWLRQV ´ EXU\ ,QQ ZDV PDGH XS people to talk &URVV H[SODLQHG RI DERXW D GR]HQ YHQWXUH $W WKH VWRS LQ 0LGGOH- to. The thought FDSLWDOLVWV DQG HQWUHSUH- bury  four  entrepreneurs  neurs  with  experience  process (for gave  short  pitches  of  in  early-Âstage  business  the venture PLQXWHV ZLWK DG- investment  in  Vermont.  capitalist moGLWLRQDO WLPH IRU TXHV- 7KLV ZDV WKH ÂżUVW VWRS torcycle tour) WLRQV DQG DGYLFH DW WKH RQ Âł)UHVK7UDFNV RQ WKH is to help those 0LGGOHEXU\ ,QQ 5RDG ´ D IRXU GD\ WRXU The  business  op- in  which  32  business- entrepreneurs SRUWXQLWLHV UHSUHVHQWHG PHQ DQG ZRPHQ ZRXOG make connecwere  Ekopolimer,  which  visit  seven  small  towns  tions.â&#x20AC;? plans  to  manufacture  â&#x20AC;&#x201D; investor shipping  pallets  from  in  Vermont,  hearing  41  Cairn Cross UHF\FOHG SODVWLF :D- SLWFKHV 7ZHOYH ULGHUV FDPH WR 0LGGOHEXU\ terotor,  a  company  with  &DLUQ &URVV FR IRXQGHU RI 6KHO- DQ LQQRYDWLYH GHVLJQ IRU DQ XQGHU- EXUQH YHQWXUH FDSLWDO ÂżUP )UHVK- water  rotor  that  generates  energy  7UDFNV &DSLWDO DQG RUJDQL]HU RI WKLV LQ H[WUHPHO\ VORZ PRYLQJ ZDWHU ZHHNÂśV PRWRUF\FOH ULGH VDLG WKH (See  Riders,  Page  18A)
Woodchuck  has  big  plans  for  its  new  facility Nation-Âleading  cider  maker  sees  growth
By the way Construction  has  begun  on  the  new  playground  on  the  Bristol  green.  Crews  broke  ground  July  30,  and  Bristol  Recreation  Director   (See  By  the  way,  Page  7A)
Index Obituaries  ................................ 6A &ODVVLÂżHGV  ....................... 6B-Â10B Service  Directory  .............. 7B-Â9B Entertainment  ........................ 15A &RPPXQLW\ &DOHQGDU  ........ 8A-Â9A Sports  ................................ 1B-Â3B
By  ANGELO  LYNN MIDDLEBURY  â&#x20AC;&#x201D;  U.S.  Sen.  Pat- ULFN /HDK\ WROG VWRULHV WR D JURXS RI LQYLWHG PHGLD DQG IULHQGV JDWKHUHG RXWVLGH WKH QHZ VTXDUH IRRW :RRGFKXFN FLGHU\ DQG ERWWOLQJ ID- FLOLW\ LQ 0LGGOHEXU\ RQ :HGQHVGD\ RI KRZ :RRGFKXFN +DUG &LGHU ZDV SDUW RI WKH ÂłKRO\ ZDWHU´ KH NHHSV LQ VWRFN DW KLV SUHVWLJLRXV RIÂżFH LQ WKH halls  of  Congress.  )XUWKHU WKH 9HUPRQW 'HPRFUDW VDLG KH OLNHV WR ERDVW WR IRONV LQ :DVKLQJWRQ ' & DQG HOVHZKHUH WKDW WKH EHVW KDUG FLGHU LQ WKH FRXQ- WU\ ² DQG WKH ÂżUVW WR KHUDOG LWV FRPHEDFN DV D QDWLRQDO GULQN LQ WKH PLG V ² LV IURP KLV KRPH state,  which  is  known  for  its  high  quality  craft  beverages. Âł7KH VWRU\ RI :RRGFKXFN LV UHS- resentative  of  Vermontâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  ethos,  of  a  SODFH NQRZQ IRU FUDIW DQG TXDOLW\ ´ /HDK\ VDLG DGGLQJ WKDW IURP LWV humble  start  in  Proctorsville  to  its  ³UHPDUNDEOH JURZWK LQ 0LGGOHEXU\
itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  clear  that  a  commitment  to  put- ting  out  a  quality  beverage  has  been  DW WKH FHQWHU RI :RRGFKXFNÂśV YLVLRQ ´ Vermont  Commissioner  of  Eco- nomic  Development  Lisa  Gosselin  FRQJUDWXODWHG WKH \HDU ROG 9HU- mont  company  for  not  just  pulling  LWVHOI EDFN IURP WKH HGJH RI EDQN- ruptcy  back  in  2003,  but  for  creating  D WKULYLQJ EXVLQHVV LQ 0LGGOHEXU\ ZLWK ORFDO HPSOR\HHV DQG ÂłOHDG- LQJ WKH QDWLRQ LQ GHYHORSLQJ D QHZ QLFKH PDUNHW QDWLRQZLGH DQG VKRZ- LQJ WKDW LW FDQ EH GRQH ULJKW KHUH LQ 9HUPRQW ´ $QG 9HUPRQW +DUG &LGHU 3UHVL- GHQW DQG &(2 'DQ 5RZHOO VKDUHG VWRULHV RI GLH KDUG :RRGFKXFN IDQV GULYLQJ PLOHV RXW RI WKHLU ZD\ WR VHH WKH FLGHU\ RU HYHQ LQFRUSRUDWLQJ a  factory  tour  into  their  honeymoon. $IWHU WKH WKUHH VSRNH EULHĂ&#x20AC;\ 5RZ- HOO FXW WKH REOLJDWRU\ ULEERQ RIÂżFLDO- U.S.  SEN.  PATRICK  Leahy  has  the  crowd  in  stitches  as  he  relates  a  story  during  the  ribbon-Âcutting  cer- ly  opening  the  $34  million  facility  on  emony  at  the  new  100,000-Âsquare-Âfoot  Woodchuck  cidery  off  Exchange  Street  in  Middlebury  on  Wednesday.  Exchange  Street  built  over  the  past  Laughing  alongside  him  are  Vermont  Commissioner  of  Economic  Development  Lisa  Gosselin  and  Vermont  Hard  Cider  President  and  CEO  Dan  Rowell. Independent  photo/Angelo  Lynn (See  Woodchuck,  Page  2A)