policy

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Small Farm Day at the Statehouse – This Thursday 5/7

“Small Farm Day” at the Vermont Statehouse
hosted by Rural Vermont & the Young Farmers’ Coalition
THIS THURSDAY, May 7th
10am-2pm
Statehouse, Montpelier

There’s been a lot of talk at the State House this year about “small farms” –  especially in the debate over how to improve water quality in our state.

Rural Vermont and the VT Chapter of the Young Farmers’ Coalition are partnering to host a day that will put a face on the “small farmer” and highlight the crucial role they are playing in the future of Vermont agriculture! Join us and introduce your farms and the practices and values that guide your farming work and support water quality and a stronger community.

On Small Farm Day, Rural Vermont will offer a briefing on issues and legislation affecting small farms and the people who support them, advocacy training, and we’ll help arrange opportunities for you to talk with your legislators. This will also be a great day to network with other farmers and learn more about how you can play a role in shaping public policy.

Here’s the schedule for the day:

10-11:00 – Issue briefing and advocacy training – Room 10

11:15-11:45 – Press Conference in the Cedar Creek Room

11:45-1:15 – Conversations with your legislators – Cafeteria & Committee Rooms

1:15 – 2:00 – Report back on what you heard and learned – Room 10

2:00-3:00 – Social Gathering at the Three Penny Taproom in Montpelier

* Our good friends at the Three Penny Taproom will be donating 10% of bar proceeds to Rural Vermont all day Thursday! So invite all your customers, friends, and neighbors – meet up, drink up, and support Rural Vermont!

RSVP with your full contact info to lucy@ruralvermont.org.  See you at the People’s House!

Find more info about Rural Vermont and its 30 year history of amplifying the voices of farmers and advocating for a fair food system, visit and join at www.ruralvermont.org.

The VT Young Farmers’ Coalition was created by and for young Vermont farmers. Their areas of focus include policy change, network building, and farmer development. Find them on Facebook.

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Rutland County Farm Bureau ~ Call for Resolutions

Please see the message below from Chris Sheldon, co-president of the Rutland County Farm Bureau.  And stay tuned for a posting about the meeting date:

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Our county board is planning our county annual meeting in October.  The date is still being decided.

We are trying to reach out to other farmers in Rutland County.  Some opportunities include: come to our meeting, join farm bureau, suggest concerns for resolutions, serve on the county board…
At our county meeting we will share farm bureau history.  Another thing we do at our annual  meeting is to create and vote on resolutions which the members use to build policy at the state annual meeting.  We are looking for ideas for resolutions from farmers who are not on our board of trustees.  It could be something really broad or something specific.  For example, I know there have been some things discussed over the summer like the wood cheese aging.  People most involved in activities referenced in resolutions tend to know how the resolution should be worded to be most effective.
Thank you in advance for your input,
Chris