Ae a 0060 0801

2015 Addison County Fair & Field Days - 1

2 - 2015 Addison County Fair & Field Days

2015 Addison County Fair & Field Days - 3

T

Welcome to the 2015 Addison County Fair & Field Days

he Addison County Fair & Field Days Board extends a cordial invitation to you, your friends and family to exhibit at this year’s Addison County Fair & Field Days on Aug. 4, 5, 6, 7, & 8 2015. It is their pleasure to present the opportunity for area citizens to showcase the quality products which they have produced. The guidelines and rules are in this booklet for anyone wishing to enter something in the competitive exhibits departments.

The Board extends a sincere appreciation to all who have exhibited in the past and look forward to working with new, as well as past exhibitors, during our 2015 Fair.

Vermont’s largest agricultural fair. Children’s barnyard, cattle judging, tractor pulls, kiddie rides, crafts, exhibits, live entertainment, pony and ox pulling, midway, parade, youth activities, and Vermont products dinner.

Fairgrounds are open from April through October for public, corporate, and private functions.

Images in the booklet are courtesy of Addison county Fair & Field Days and J. Kirk Edwards and the Vermont Eagle.

2015-16 Board of Directors PRESIDENT: James Foster Jr., 388-9764

Gilbert Goodyear, 453-2111

VICE PRESIDENT: Diane Norris, 897-7014

Neil Allen, 989-5167

SECRETARY: Kathy Nisun, 352-6630

James Weening, 453-3483

TREASURER: Brenda Deering, 545-2279

Benj Deppman, 462-2122

MEMBER AT LARGE: William Roleau, 453-3713

Cheryl Morrison, 247-3610

MEMBER AT LARGE: Kenneth Button, 989-7055

BUSINESS MANAGER: Cara Mullin, 545-2557

Mike Reed, 759-2054

GROUNDS MANAGER: Leonard Barrett, 349-4179

4 - 2015 Addison County Fair & Field Days

2015 Addison County Fair & Field Days - 5

ADMissions & DireCtions

Y

our ticket price includes parking, gate admission, re-admission, grandstands, all field days shows & exhibits.

ADULTS (ages 12 and over) Tuesday-Friday Daily Admission $10 Saturday Only Admission $12 SEASON PASS $40 SENIOR DISCOUNT - Free on Tuesday ONLY with Green Mountain Passport, all other days are regular price admission. (Green Mtn Passports can be purchased at your local Town Clerk’s office) CHILDREN (ages 6-11) Daily Admission $5 SEASON PASS $15 CHILDREN (5 years and under)

Admission and pass policy GENERAL POLICY An admission fee is charged to each individual upon entering Field Days grounds each and every day from 7 a.m. until midnight.

EXCEPTIONS 1. Children age 5 and under will be admitted FREE at all times when accompanied by an adult.

2. Active 4-H members and leaders who are exhibiting and volunteering every day will be admitted to the grounds free upon presentation of a special colored 4H/Fair Bracelets. One leader from each club will send a list of active participating members and leaders by July 19th to: 4-H Fair Bracelets, UVM Extension, 23 Pond Lane, Suite 300, Middlebury, VT 05753.

4-H members will receive their Bracelets from their leader or department superintendent.

3. See specific policies (below).

NOTE: Special individual rate of $8 applies to bus loads or groups of 20 or more people who have made prior arrangements.

The payment of a one-day admission bracelet permits the CONTINUED ON PAGE 6

FREE all days.

RIDE BRACELET TIMES – Pay one price TUESDAY 6 - 11 p.m. — $15/bracelet WEDNESDAY 12 - 11 p.m. — $20/bracelet THURSDAY 6 - 11 p.m. — $17/bracelet FRIDAY 12 - 6 p.m. — $12/bracelet FRIDAY 6 - 11 p.m. — $17/bracelet SATURDAY 6 - 11 p.m. — $17/bracelet

D

irections from Route 22A in Addison 4-Corners, take Route 17E for 3.8 miles.

From Route 7 in New Haven Jct., take Route 17W for 3.5 miles to the ACFFD site at 1790 Field Days Rd. in New Haven, Vt.

6 - 2015 Addison County Fair & Field Days individual re-entry on the grounds during that same day and evening.

COMPLIMENTARY PASSES Any individual who claims that he/she should have a free Field Days pass will pay the regular gate admission charges, but should be advised to contact his/ her department superintendent or the Field Days office. A special slip signed at the gate is used. Full refund of gate payments will be made and a Field Days pass issued if such individual is so qualified.

SPECIFIC POLICIES Admit without Passes: 1. Employed entertainment groups to which Field Days has been unable to send passes. Field Days will advise gate personnel (ticket sellers) of these specific groups.

2. Governor, driver and assistants.

3. State Police.

4. Congressional delegations.

5. Children 5 years of age and younger.

6. State Inspectors.

EXHIBITOR POLICIES 1. Free Exhibit Space — will be provided for UVM, the Vermont Dept. of Agriculture and possibly others at the discretion of the board of directors. One (1) free season pass provided for each free exhibit space 2. Commercial Exhibitors — will receive two (2) free season passes and two (2) parking passes for each space purchased. Additional day passes may be purchased for $8 each.

3. Adult Exhibitors — who participate every day. Includes: Open Dairy; Open Beef; Sheep Show.

A. Those with the above exhibits may purchase a five day pass for $15 each as follows: 1 - 5 animals on exhibit: limit 2 passes

6 - 10 animals on exhibit: limit 3 passes 11 or more animals: limit 4 passes B. All other youth and adult exhibitors — one (1) season pass per exhibitor or the same rate ($15) as above.

4. Non 4-H Youth Exhibitors — who pay no entry fee and who participate one (1) day only will receive one (1) free day pass through their Field Days Department Superintendent.

5. Adult Exhibitors — who pay no show entry fees and who participate one (1) day only will pay the regular gate admission with no refund, with exception of hand mowing.

6. Youth & Adult Exhibitors — who bring in and set up exhibits and remove them at the conclusion of Field Days are expected to do their set-up on Monday and tear-down after Field Days closes. Those who must enter on Saturday evening before the ticket booths close to claim their exhibits may purchase a one day pass at the exhibitor rate. Passes can be purchased at the Field Days office. Examples: Crops, Flower Show, Vegetable Exhibits, Handcrafts, Foods, any static exhibits.

7. Youth & Adult Horse Show Participants — entry fees are paid by these exhibitors. Passes will be issued by the Superintendent of Horse Shows according to announced rules, which have been approved by the Field Days Directors, with the following exceptions: A. Registered Horse Show advance entries (non 4-H’ers) will get one (1) free day pass per rider.

B. 4-H Youth Horse Show riders may get, through their Horse Superintendent and with membership card shown, one (1) free day pass, and may purchase one (1) season pass for $15 at the discretion of the Horse Show’s Superintendent, season passes may be given to those entrants who have horses on the grounds for the entire Field Days.

8. Maple Producers — if half (1/2) of the maple space is devoted to educational material, free season passes will be issued for that area.

The remaining portion of the area will be treated as a concession.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

2015 Addison County Fair & Field Days - 7 If less than half of the maple space is devoted to educational material, the entire building will be treated as a concession.

9. 4-H passes — see 4-H Rules Page 10 10. Active FFA members and leaders who are working at the Mount Abe Dairy Bar or the FFA food booth will be admitted onto the grounds free upon a presentation of a special colored FFA pass.

One leader from each chapter will send a list of active participating members and leaders by July 19th: ACFFD, P.O. Box 745, Middlebury, VT 05753. This list will be crossed referenced with 4-H, FFA passes will be mailed to their leaders, who will pass them onto the members.

OTHER THAN EXHIBITORS Those invited for demonstrations: (fashion show, parade, VIP’s, Dairy Queen, Miss Vermont, etc.); educational, religious - will be issued necessary free day passes by the department Superintendent or the person(s) responsible for the specific event. In the event gate admission has been paid, Field Days will make a refund upon verification, via the special form issued at the gate where admission was paid, of payment of said admission.

Holders of State Fair Assoc. passes admitted without charge at any time.

Employed Entertainment Groups - see #1 under SPECIFIC POLICIES, or follow instructions of Field Days office.

Special season passes may be issued, at the discretion of the Board of Directors, to Field Days grounds neighbors at the rate of one (1) per family member living at home.

CAMPING FEES The fees for camping on the grounds are $150 a week or $35 a night.

Electricity, water and gray/septic water pumped. You must fill out and send in your camping form before July 25.

A camping space DOES NOT include admission. You must buy a season pass for every person staying in the camper/tent.

Bill J. Kipp, MS, LAS Serving Northeast Dairymen since 1983

VT | NY | NY

INDEPENDENT DAIRY CONSULTANTS Inc.

61002

Office: 802-388-0585 Cell: 802-777-0249 Fax: 802-388-1310 kippwj@comcast.net P.O. Box 873 Middlebury, VT 05753

74160

grounds rental

T

he fairgrounds site is open from April through October for your corporate and private functions. We offer a great location for many kinds of events ranging from family reunions, camper rallies, horse shows and tool sales to auctions, concerts and circuses just to name a few.

The following is a list of buildings that are available for rent and their sizes. Call at 802-545-2557 or e-mail us to get a price quote for your next event.

Buildings Sizes

Paquette Building 120 x 120 4-H Exhibit Hall 40 x 120 Dairy Barn(Field Days) 60 x 150 Dairy Barn(4-H) 60 x 150 Horse Barn(Field Days) 36 box stalls “NEW” Horse Barn(Field Days) 40 box stalls Horse Barn(4-H) 40 box stalls Dining Hall-Bldg. Only 32 x 80 Dining Hall w/ kitchen Fac. 32 x 80 Addison County Fair & Field Days, Inc. P.O. Box 745 Middlebury, Vt, 05753 Telephone/Fax: 802-545-2557 E-mail: fielddays@gmavt.net

8 - 2015 Addison County Fair & Field Days

Daily Activities and Schedule of Events Daily Activities

10:00-10:00 Children’s Barnyard Open 10:00-10:00 4-H & Youth Building Open 10:00-10:00 Antique Equipment Building Open 9:00 - 9:00 Maple Sugar House Open 10:00-6:00 Twist O’ Wool Guild Demos (Twist O’ Wool Guild tent) 10:00- Forest Festival Exhibits & Demonstrations (forestry building) 10:00-10:00 Antique Equipment Demos (Antique Equipment Area) 10:00-10:00 Home & Garden Building Open with continuous craft demos 10:00-10:00 Lucien Paquette Exhibit Building Open 10:00-5:00 Wood Carving (Antique Equipment Area) Daily Maple Products Demonstrations (maple sugar house) 12:00-12:00 Midway Open (approximately) 1:00-4:00 Milking Parlor Demonstrations 1:00-6:00 Cairo Northern Clowns (walk around entertainment) Please Note: Most exhibits will be removed on Saturday night at 10.

Schedule of Events

Aug. 3-6 — Addison County Fair & Field Days 4-H Horse & Pony Show & Open Shows Aug.4-8 — 67th Annual Addison County Fair & Field Days (Contact: Cara Mullin 545-2557) Aug. 15&16 — Champlain Valley Horse Show (Contact Shelly Edson 802-363-1997) Aug. 22 — Ciderstock Camping (Contact: Erin Reed 802-385-3610) Aug. 29 & 30 — Green Mountain Appaloosa Horse Show(Contact: Jen

Baker 802-771-7023) Sept. 8 — OCNRD Conservation Day (Contact Pam Stefanek 388-6746) Sept. 18 & 19 — VTPA Benefit Tractor Pull (Contact: Mike Bowdish) Oct. 4 — Vermont Quarter Horse Gymkhana (Contact: Lori Brown (802) 989-9186) Oct. 10 & 11 — Winter Storage Items put in (Hours: Sat. 9-3 & Sun. 12-3) Oct. 17 & 18 — Winter Storage Items put in (Hours: Sat. 9-3 & Sun. 12-3)

vt. products dinner “A Taste of Vermont”

Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2015 — Four seatings: 4:45, 5:30, 6:15 and 7 p.m.

LOCATION: the Dining Hall (a.k.a. T.J.’s BBQ) COORDINATOR: Linda Barrett, 802-758-2235 Take a break from the sun or rain.

Come into the Field Days Dining Hall and enjoy a sit-down meal with family and friends! Restaurants and food producers from Addison County and beyond will present a delicious buffet for your dining pleasure. Multiple entrees, dessert, and beverage available and served by local student athletes and participating food producers. Tickets for adults are just $10; children under 10 years are $5. Tickets will be on sale by calling the Field Days office at 802-545-2557 or by e-mail at fielddays@gmavt.net.

We hope you and your family will have a great time at the fair!

B I A

BOURDON Insurance Agency a representative for:

CO-OPERATIVE INSURANCE COMPANIES “Local People Serving Local People” 48 Merchants Row, Middlebury, VT

388-4837

72155

1. The following rules shall apply to all departments of the Fair.

It shall be the responsibility of all exhibitors, food vendors and concessionaires to abide by these rules.

2. All property brought upon the Field Days grounds by any person and for any purpose is subject to these rules.

3. All persons entering upon Field Days grounds, with or without permission and for any purpose, agree to hold Field Days and its officers, directors, trustees, agents and employees, harmless from any loss, damage, injury, death, or disability from any cause whatsoever to any person or property.

4. All property brought upon the Field Days grounds shall be the sole responsibility of the owner, and Field Days assumes no responsibility for its safety.

5. As a part of the consideration for permission to be upon the Field Days grounds, all claims for damage to property or for personal injury are specifically waived;

2015 Addison County Fair & Field Days - 9

General Rules

and no claim or suit shall in any way be commenced or maintained against Field Days or its officers, directors, trustees, agents or employees.

6. All exhibits and entries must remain intact until the release time specified in each department. Failure to comply with this rule will result in forfeiture of all premiums and ribbons or trophies won in all departments.

7. The Directors of Field Days reserve the right to reassign any space not occupied by an exhibitor by the specific date. No exhibitor is permitted to sublet or assign his/her space without prior written approval of the director(s) in charge of such space.

8. Exhibitors and concessionaires shall keep their space(s) and stall(s) clean at all times. All waste and litter shall be placed in appropriate containers. Failure to do so automatically transfers, to the Field Days Directors, the right to contract the cleanup at the expense of the person(s) responsible for such space/exhibit/conces-

sion.

9. Any person objecting in an ungentlemanly or public manner to the judgment or ruling of an awarding committee, judge, department superintendent, or any official of Field Days may be excluded by the Board of Directors from further competition or exhibition until such time as he/she has been reinstated by decision of a majority of the entire Board of Directors.

10. Any exhibitor making or causing to be made, any false statement regarding an animal or article, or attempting to interfere with any judge in the performance of his/her duty, shall be excluded from competition or exhibition.

11. Premiums shall be awarded on articles listed in the premium lists only. The judges in each department shall be approved by the Department Superintendent. No one shall be permitted to judge in an area in which he/she exhibits.

12. Where there are fewer animals or articles shown in a class

than the number of premiums offered, the judges may or may not award a prize or prizes, or may combine a class or classes, at their sole discretion.

13. Premiums shall be paid by the treasurer at the close of Field Days or as soon thereafter as possible.

14. Premiums shall be awarded only in accordance with the entry book which has been properly signed by the judge(s).

15. The directors of Field Days have the right to remove from the Field Days grounds any exhibit, animal, concession, show, sign, banner, or advertising matter of any kind which is unsuitable or objectionable to them, without assigning any reason thereto.

16. The Board of Directors shall authorize only those exhibits and concessions which evidence a high moral standard. No exhibit or concession shall be conducted in other than a legitimate and tradesmanlike manner.

10 - 2015 Addison County Fair & Field Days

Sponsors and Support

Sponsorship Program

In 2000, we instituted a sponsorship program with different dollar levels and rewards at each level for becoming a sponsor. The following businesses are this year’s sponsors; a HUGE thank you goes out to them for their continued support of the fair. (This listing is as of May 1, 2014.)

GOLD Sponsors-$2,500 & Up No. 1 Auto Parts The Addison Independent Champlain Valley Equipment Hall Communications (KOOL 105, WJOY AM 1230 & 98.9 WOKO) Pepsi Cola Bottling Co. Radio Vermont Group (WDEV FM 96.1, AM 550 & WVAA AM 1390) Waitsfield & Champlain Valley Telecom SILVER Sponsors-$1,000-2,499 Casella Waste Mgmt.

VT Natural Ag Products BRONZE Sponsors-$500-999 AJ’s Catering Loewer & Associates Friends of Field Days-$250-499 Bourdon Insurance Isham Brook Farm RE-MAX/Champlain Valley Properties The Stove Depot Yankee Farm Credit

Addison County Fair & Field Days “Gala”

The Addison County Field Days Gala is held each year in March.

The Gala is a $125 raffle, dinner and dance to help raise money for capital improvements to the grounds at Field Days.

The Field Days directors are determined to continually upgrade the Field Days grounds to make Addison County Field Days something that all the residents here can be proud of.

The Board appreciates all the support we have received from individuals and businesses that help make the gala such a success. A very special “thank you” to all who have supported the organization in our efforts.

Note: Names of Gala supporters not available at press time.

Addison County Fair circa 1900

2015 Addison County Fair & Field Days - 11

Rokeby Farm Drawings on Exhibit and is free. Admission to the museum is $10 adults, $9 seniors, and $8 students.

Rokeby Museum presents a national un-

derground railroad story tucked inside a quintessential Vermont experience. It is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. until Oct. 25.

Anna Stevens Robinson reading to her husband, Rowland Evans Robinson.

From the Centennial Edition of “In New England Fields and Woods”

Harvey & Donna Smith 2516 Lime Kiln Rd New Haven, VT 05472

802-877-2712 802-349-7268 (cell) harvey@smithfamilymeats.com

smithfamilymeats.com

Farm StoreSmith Open 9-5-or by 1Appointment Rep. Harvey 49702 Page - Composite “Agriculture is important to us all...

...see you at Field Days”

Rep. Harvey Smith

Paid for by Rep. Harvey Smith

74152

FERRISBURGH — Rokeby Museum will open “The Farm: Drawings of Rowland Evans Robinson, 1850-1880,” a never-beforeseen exhibition of drawings on Sunday June 14.

At 3 p.m. historian Gregory Sharrow of the Vermont Folklife Center will be on hand to explore Vermont’s farm legacy in his presentation “Sense of Place.” Sharrow draws on the Folklife Center’s rich collection to examine the fabric of Vermont’s farm culture and distinctive traditions from the early 20th century as he probes its relationship to today’s farms and farmers.

The drawings of Rowland Evans Robinson cover similar territory, but from 150 years earlier. Born to abolitionist parents at Rokeby in 1833, Robinson began to draw as a child.

Hankering to “be somebody,” he set off for New York City in his early 20s. He struggled to find work in the illustrated newspapers of the day and eventually succeeded capturing the farm life all around him for the agricultural papers. Those drawings will be on display until the end of October.

The program, “Sense of Place,” is sponsored by the Vermont Humanities Council

12 - 2015 Addison County Fair & Field Days

saddle up: vermont, horses, trail rides, and relationships MIDDLEBURY — Long-time horse owner Heidi Littlefield of Fairfax said that there’s something about Vermont and horses that is magical.

Littlefield, who is a Vermont Eagle newspaper account representative, said that her having to retrain her horse, using natural horsemanshipround pen training techniques, has taught her many lessons about life and herself.

Littlefield’s relationship with her horse “Bud”, a National Show Horse (Arabian x Saddlebred), has so inspired her that she is in the process of writing a nonfiction book about her experiences with the human-horse connection.

While not revealing the title of her lifestory memoir with “Bud”, Littlefield hopes that the book will be published sometime within the next year or two.

So, why the Vermont love affair with horses?

For horse observer Littlefield, the Green Mountain State is inextricably linked to Justin Morgan’s famous breed, the Morgan horse, among the USA’s first horse breeds of note.

Both the University of Vermont’s Morgan Horse Farm and the National Museum of the Morgan Horse, located in Addison County, celebrate the long and proseprous history of the famous Morgan breed.

Beyond the fame of the Morgan breed, Vermont has been a major player in the horse game—with a few ups and downs over the years, since the 18th century: The Battle of Bennington, fought during the American Revolution, was triggered when British troops attempted to steal a stableful of the rebels’ finest steeds, near the site of today’s Bennington Monument.

In recent times, Vermont dairy farmers have cashed-in on the horse industry with a very unusual, yet valuable export—hay. At least a halfdozen Addison County farmers truck hay, several times a year, to a se-

lect number of large Arizona ranches. Then, the tractor-trailers return home, after making the 5,100-mile roundtrip trip, empty and ready to be filled again.

But at the heart of the new landscape is the fact that Vermont has seen a major increase in horse ownership by wealthy ex-suburbanites—so-called lady and gentleman farmers. They buy up defunct dairy farms or build new horse-only barns and paddocks on multiacre, rural tracts.

Littlefield has notced the changes in Vermont. She approves of more horses in the state.

“I’d have to say that Vermont’s most popular horses for owners are the Morgan horse, the Quarter horse, and the Arabian horse,” she noted. “Any horse farm you’ll visit in Vermont will most likely showcase at least one of these three breeds.”

And then there’s the lush, green beauty of the Vermont backcountry landscape in summer where horses seem to belong naturally—not unlike old England’s rolling horse country.

Lessons and trail rides Another area of growth in Vermont is leisure horseback riding and riding lessons.

Danielle LaBerge of East Middlebury satisfies her passion for horses as a caretaker at the Kingsland Bay Stables in Ferrisburgh. The stables are owned by Kelli Cole and managed by Mandy Brigan.

Last week, LaBerge started her stable workday early by exercising two horses, Baby and Calvin, along Hawkins Road, near the shore of Lake Champlain.

“Kingsland Bay Stables has 13 horses and we provide riding lesCONTINUED ON PAGE 13

MONTPELIER 19 Barre St., VT (802) 229-0567

MORRISVILLE WILLISTON Rt 2A & Zephyr Rd, VT 155 Portland St., VT (802) 878-5112 (802) 888-2025

2015 Addison County Fair & Field Days - 13 sons—in English and Western traditions—as well as trail rides,” according to LeBerge. “We also board horses.”

LaBerge owns a horse, too, which is kept on a farm in Salisbury; she concurs that the connection between humans and horses is an ancient and a deep one.

“You get to know each horse as an individual,” she said. “They have their own personality.”

As soon as the summer season begins on Memorial Day, the stables will see a flock of locals and tourists interested in horseback riding. Blessed with a picturesque location adjoining Kingsland Bay State Park, trail rides include breathtaking views of the lake along evergreen scented trails.

Getting back to Littlefield—her forthcoming book will explore what individuals can apply to everyday life from the deep link found between horse and owner.

“Horses keep you honest,” Littlefield said. “I had heard this expression before, but I didn’t really get it until I realized that these beautiful animals do indeed pinpoint our moods; they seem to know just where we’re at during the day. And then there’s the innate quality of a horse—that’s why so many experts agree with Winston Churchill: ’There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man.’”

ABOVE: East Middlebury resident Danielle LaBerge, an employee of Kingsland Bay Stables in Ferrisburgh, is one of a number of Vermonters involved in the growing business of horse ownership, boarding, and trail riding.

Photo by Lou Varricchio

14 - 2015 Addison County Fair & Field Days

2015 Addison County Fair & Field Days - 15

16 - 2015 Addison County Fair & Field Days

storage

S

torage buildings are protected by ADT Security Systems Looking for a place to store your car, boat or camper during the long winter months? Look no further—bring your vehicles to Addison County Fair & Field Days. Our buildings are secured with a state of the art security system and prices are competitive.

Storage in Dates: Saturdays, Oct. 10 & 17 Sundays, Oct. 11 & 18 Storage out Dates: Saturdays, April 16 & 23

9:00-3:00 12:00-3:00

Sundays, April 17 & 24

12:00-3:00

RATES: $13 per foot under 9’6” in secured building $14 per foot over 9’6” in secured building $10 per foot under cover only (not in secured building If you would like an application, please call 802-545-2557, e-mail fielddays@gmavt.net or download one at www.addisoncountyfielddays.com

9:00-3:00

Kiln Dried Firewood Available for Prompt Delivery

Burns Cleaner Burns Hotter Burn Less!

VT Certified for Heat Processing

The A. Johnson Co., LLC Bristol, VT 05443 802-453-4884

74153

2015 Addison County Fair & Field Days - 17

18 - 2015 Addison County Fair & Field Days

Morgan Horse Museum names new director

On May 9, 4-H members met at the Meyers’ farm in Chittenden for a Sheep Blocking & Fitting clinic. Participants received instruction on the various grooming and fitting tools, procedures to keep sheep and handlers safe and how to go about preparing their wool breed animals for a show or fair. Instructor for the workshop was Jake Jacobs. The event was hosted by Elaine and Joseph Meyers.

Above, 4-H’er Rebecca Moriarty works with hand shears to shape her sheep’s fleece while other participants in the background get tips and assistance from 4-H leaders.

CLEGG’S MEMORIALS Quality Memorials Since 1930

• Monuments • Markers

• Bronze • Statuary

• Lettering • Cleaning

www.cleggsmemorials.com

72292

57 Main St., New Haven • 453-3433

MIDDLEBURY — American Morgan Horse Association (AMHA) Executive Director Julie Broadway announced that after a search, Amy Mincher has been hired as the museum director for the National Museum of the Morgan Horse, located in Middlebury.

Mincher holds a master’s degree from the University of Vermont in American History and has worked in collections, education, and administration at several area museums including the PresMorgan horse and rider at the Parade of ident Calvin Coolidge State Breeds at the Kentucky Horse Park.

Historic Site in Plymouth Source: American Morgan Horse Notch and the Slate Valley Museum in Granville, NY. She also has worked on museum education, collections, and exhibit projects at the Vermont Marble Museum, Rokeby Museum, and the Sheldon Museum.

Founded in 1909, the American Morgan Horse Association is a nonprofit organization serving more than 50,000 Morgan horse owners, breeders, exhibitors, and enthusiasts throughout the United States.

AMHA serves as a parent organization to more than 90 recognized Morgan horse clubs and national service organizations.

2015 Addison County Fair & Field Days - 19

F’burgh farm gets kudos for going green FERRISBURGH — Officials of Efficiency Vermont are singing the praises of a Ferrisburgh dairy farm that is showing other farms how to do “green” right.

Efficiency Vermont has reported that Brace Farm Inc. “is slated for $94,000 in lifetime savings—a direct result from making energy efficiency business improvements by working with Reed’s Equipment in Vergennes and Efficiency Vermont.”

Brace Farm, founded in 1984, is owned and operated by the Brace family. Alex and Michelle Brace milk 140 Holsteins with more than 4 million pounds of milk shipped annually through the St. Albans Cooperative Creamery.

J.J. Vandette, Efficiency Vermont’s chair of Farm to Plate Energy Cross-Cutting Team, said that the 58,300 kWh in annual electricity savings at the Ferrisburgh farm demonstrates “a direct cost benefit in the first year, saving the farm $7,600 by implementing a series of energy efficiency projects.”

Non-profit Efficiency Vermont, established to provide technical and financial assistance to the state’s households and businesses to help them reduce their energy costs, cites the farm as model for other agricultural operations.

Vandette noted that five energy efficiency practices areas distinguish Brace Farm from others: 1. A plate cooler saves energy by precooling milk 2. A heat recovery unit saves the farm energy by trapping waste heat 3. An energy efficient exhaust fan improves ventilation in the barn (making for healthier cows) 4. An variable frequency drive decreases electricity use on a farm wide bases, and 5. A durable vapor-proof lighting system provides even light distribution

Locally Harvested, Carefully Selected Lumber for All Your Needs

74154

Mill Direct Hardwoods • Softwoods Paneling • Flooring • Siding • Rough

www.vermontlumber.com Quality Practicing Kiln Dried The A. Johnson Co., LLC Sustainable Hardwoods Forestry 995 South 116 Rd & Softwoods Bristol, VT 05443 802-453-4884 7:00-4:30 M-F

Alex Brace’s dairy farm in Ferrisburgh is being showcased by Efficiency Vermont as the correct way to do “green” on the farm.

“Collecting, cooling, and shipping this volume of milk is an energyintensive process, and keeping the two barns lit and properly-ventilated also adds to the energy requirements of the farm,” according to Vandette. “Alex Brace takes significant steps to manage his energy use and to use energy more efficiently, all while maintaining milk production and preserving the longevity of his equipment.”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

20 - 2015 Addison County Fair & Field Days Vandette also cited the use of plate cooler as a heat exchanger also saves big money.

“Precooling milk reduces the energy required by the refrigeration system to cool the milk in the bulk tank. Equipment vendor, Todd Reed of Reed’s Equipment helped size the plate cooler properly and Efficiency Vermont helped cover a portion of the equipment costs,” he said. “The plate cooler is saving 13,811 kWh annually, which amounts to approximately $1,750 per year.”

When it comes to sanitation, Efficiency Vermont also found the Brace Farm to be a leader in the field.

“Every dairy farmer knows that proper sanitation and high milk quality go hand-in-hand,” according to Vandette. “In order to ensure milking equipment is sanitized properly, a constant supply of hot water is necessary. To reduce the energy required to heat his 120-gallon hot water tank, Alex purchased a new heat recovery unit. This unit

captures the waste heat from his bulk tank compressor to pre-heat the water so that the hot water heater doesn’t have to work as hard. Alex replaced his old tank (which had sprung a leak), and Efficiency Vermont helped subsidize the cost with a $1,000 rebate on the cost of the equipment.”

The farmer agrees, too— “This equipment is a no-brainer,” Alex said, “and it’s very cost-effective.”

When it comes to lighting around the farm,the Braces used Efficiency Vermont rebates for agricultural lighting.

“The light output is great,” according to Alex.

The Brace Farm was the focus recently in a series of case studies showcasing Vermont farms, businesses, vendors, installers, and technical assistance providers that are making energy efficiency changes.

You can read the stories of other area farms online at www.vtfarmtoplate.com.

2015 Addison County Fair & Field Days - 21

22 - 2015 Addison County Fair & Field Days

Middlebury farmer keeps on truckin’ with u.s. Army surplus

ABOVE AND RIGHT: Middlebury farmer Joel Pominville and the U.S. Army surplus trucks he bought on Uncle Sam’s Internet auction. Being a practical farmer, he converted the beds, designed to transport soldiers, to dumpers so he can haul feed for cows.

Photo by Lou Varricchio

MIDDLEBURY — Starting in 2011, Vermont organic dairy farmer Joel Pominville, 54, of Middlebury has purchased two, giant U.S. Army surplus M928 trucks at a government auction held on the Internet. Since then, he hasn’t ever regretted making the move to Uncle Sam’s trucks.

The Pominville farm, located on Quarry Road, has been in successful operation since the 1950s; it now includes nearly 1,000 acres. And by all accounts, these previously used M928 vehicles have proved to be among the most reliable trucks ever used on the family farm.

Both 22-feet-long bruisers are low-mileage: a 1988 (17,000 miles) and a 1991 model (12,000 miles) are AWD long-bed trooper carrier trucks manufactured to “mil spec” by AM General.

Pominville smiles when he said he paid $6.900 for the ‘88 model, and $9,000 for the ‘91 model. Ironically, one of the auctioned trucks happened to be a retired Vermont Army National Guard vehicle, so pick up was easy enough in Chittenden County, Vt. According to Military Today.com, the origin of the Army’s M928 truck began with a similar 5-ton, 6×6 U.S. military model back in the 1970s. It replaced the old M809 model and continues to do yeoman’s work for the Armed Forces. All the newer trucks, much like Pominville’s, use rugged, reliable Cummins and Allison diesel engines—all made proudly in the USA. “The U.S. Government has invested over 100 years of research and development into these trucks,” Pominville noted, “so you know they’re going perform when you need them. The trucks stand up to all kinds of weather and conditions; that’s why they make impressive farm vehicles for us.”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 24

2015 Addison County Fair & Field Days - 23

74015

24 - 2015 Addison County Fair & Field Days Indiana-based AM General, the maker of one of Pominville’s twin M928s, is best remembered by old timers for its former incarnations as the Willys Overland, Kaiser Jeep and Studebaker companies. Today’s Chrysler Jeep has its roots at AM General.

Pominville confirmed that there’s a lot of automotive history at AM General.

The Midwest company produced U.S. Mail trucks, Willys and Kaiser Jeeps, transit buses, and motor trolleys. A lesser known company, Hirsch, also manufactures troop and cargo trucks for the U.S. military.

Pominville said one his Army trucks is, in fact, a Hirsch product.

AM General is getting more and more attention from outsiders in the motor vehicle industry—so much so that mighty Mercedes Benz skipped over G.M. and Japanese-owned Toyota to have its new R-class luxury sport utility vehicle built at AM General’s “mil spec” factory in Indiana. (The company also makes the Humvee or High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle at the same plant.)

A skilled mechanic, Pominville refurbished his trucks for farm use, and repainted them in classic World War II/Korean War-era olive color with a brilliant white star on the cab doors (the Army’s color scheme was originally desert camo for action in the Global War on Terrorism).

Being a practical farmer, you’d expect Pominville to tinker with the truck layout; he converted the beds, designed to transport soldiers, to dumpers so he can haul feed for cows.

“I’m impressed with the simplicity of these vehicles and the ease of maintenance,” he noted. “For example, all the wheel bearings are the same, the drive trains are interchangeable—and I can buy all the parts I need at NAPA right here in Middlebury.”

Another nifty feature displayed in G.I. Joel’s trucks: the vehicles employ self inflating/deflating tires—ideal for Pominville’s muddy spring fields.

Aside from being simple, no-nonsense workhorse trucks, there’s also the feeling of fun Pominville has when he climbs into the cab of a M928.

”One day I passed a little boy along the road,” Pominville said.

“He saw the truck and his jaw dropped. He ran after me for aways.”

Enough said about the stare factor.

Check It Out: To find out where you can find a retired U.S. Army truck at auction via the Internet, see www.govliquidation.com and www.govdeals.com to begin your search.

Inside the cab of farmer Joel Pominville’s M928 U.S. Army truck.

Photo by Lou Varricchio

2015 Addison County Fair & Field Days - 25

WALKIES — Danielle LaBerge of East Middlebury gives horses “Baby” and “Calvin” a morning walk along Hawkins Road in Ferrisburgh. LaBerge cares for 13 horses at nearby Kingsland Bay Stables which includes Englishand Western-style riding lessons, trail rides, and boarding. See related story in this week’s Eagle.

Photo by Lou Varricchio

Cracked or Chipped Windshields Blurring Your Vision?

realroots

helping generations of neighbors We’ve been enjoying the Addison County Field Days for 67 years… and providing dependable banking in our community for even longer.

From your fi rst checking account to your fi rst mortgage, we have the experience you can rely on. Bank Real. Live Real.

We can help you see your way clear!

• Windshield repair/replacements • Custom Shower Enclosures • Auto glass and mirrors • Plexiglass & insulated glass • Insurance approved discounts

Enjoy 5 fun days of fair festivities!

It’s not too early to start thinking about replacing or repairing your storm windows for winter!

DESABRAIS GLASS Boardman Street, Middlebury • 388-9049

nbmvt.com • 877-508-8455 BRANDON • BRISTOL • HINESB URG • MIDDLEB URY • VERGENNES

72163

NBM070-15_RealRoots/fieldDaysAd_3.5x4.75AE.indd 1

72146

7/2/15 2:05 PM

26 - 2015 Addison County Fair & Field Days

For more than 40 years Middlebury Beef Supply, located on U.S. Route 7 in Middlebury, has sold the complete line of Monument Farm Dairy products including whole milk, low-fat milk, skim milk, cream, half-and-half and chocolate milk.

Celebrating its 85th anniversary this year, the dairy’s milk products rank in the top five products sold at the store.

Pictured: Store clerks Katrina Wright, Tyler LaPlant and Beth Ratcliff stand behind all Monument Farms products.

Photo by Lou Varricchio

2015 Addison County Fair & Field Days - 27

28 - 2015 Addison County Fair & Field Days