Randolph — On Dec. 17, hundreds of Vermonters will come together at Vermont Technical Center to celebrate the success of the Working Lands Enterprise Fund and to identify actions to encourage policymakers to continue this important work. Farmers, forest products leaders, value-adding entrepreneurs, investors, policy leaders, community residents, and all who care about the future of Vermont’s Working Lands will come together to consider progress that has been made, assess the work ahead, and advance the next steps needed for public policy and investment.
The Summit is being organized by the Vermont Council on Rural Development, with several organizations sponsoring the event.
The day will begin with a welcome and update from both Gov. Peter Shumlin and House Speaker Shap Smith, and throughout the day, 16 panels will be offered – some in plenary sessions, and several in breakout sessions. Approximately 90 panel members will present their views on how to strengthen and spur Vermont’s working lands economy.
Lunchtime will feature the Take a Tour of Working Lands exhibit – a photo display with stories of Working Lands Innovators and celebrating projects funded through the Vermont Working Lands Enterprise Fund. Summit participants will be assigned to lunch in two sessions that will alternate with time to walk through the Working Lands Enterprise Gallery. A full list of the 2013 Working Lands Enterprise Fund award recipients can be found here. Thirteen of the recipients are featured in the photo exhibit.
The day will end with the presentation of the Vermont Council on Rural Development 2013 Community Leadership Award.
A full agenda for the day, registration information, and location details can all be found on the summit website.
Published on Green Mountain Outlook.