About NOFA-VT

Kirsten Bower

Kirsten Bower is NOFA Vermont’s Financial Manager and has worked with NOFA for over 20 years. Her previous positions include Office Manager and VOF Certification Inspector as well as coordinator of various programs. She has a BS in forestry from West Virginia University and a masters in Plant &Soil Science from the University of Vermont. Kirsten lives in Richmond with her husband Steve, two daughters Camille and Maya, their dog Luna, cat Eva, and 5 chickens.

Cheryl Bruce

Cheryl Bruce started working for the Vermont Organic Farmers certification program in 2004. Cheryl graduated with a degree in Animal Science from the University of New Hampshire and also received a Master's degree from the University of Vermont in Plant and Soil Science. Before coming to VOF, she co-operated a small vegetable farm, worked for a large commercial greenhouse business and did part-time work on a local orchard. Cheryl says her favorite part of her job at VOF is the opportunity to see all the amazing work being done by Vermont farmers. She hopes to someday have her own on-farm business.

CARA COUCH

Cara Couch is NOFA Vermont's Office Manager. Cara came to NOFA Vermont from the Vermont Land Trust where she worked as a Development Associate. Prior to her VLT work, Cara worked in Community Education at Heifer International in Little Rock, Arkansas. In 2003, Cara graduated from Hendrix College with a BA in International Relations and Global Studies. In addition to working at NOFA Vermont, Cara is studying to become a yoga teacher. Some of Cara's hobbies include cooking, walking, hiking, practicing yoga, reading, making greetings cards and spending time with friends and family. Cara lives in Richmond with her husband Keith and kitty cat Triscuit.   

Erin Clark

Erin Clark has worked as the Certification Assistant for Vermont Organic Farmers, LLC, (VOF) since September of 2006. Prior to moving to Vermont, Erin lived and worked in Antigonish, Nova Scotia and Gainesville, Florida. She is an avid gardener, has worked on several organic farms and for the Florida Organic Growers. Outside the office, she and her husband are currently building a home in East Montpelier. At VOF Erin organizes the annual bulk order, assists the certification process and does on-farm inspections.

Nicole Dehne

Nicole Dehne administers NOFA-VT's certification program. She first came to Vermont in the summer of 1995 to work at the farm at the Mountain School in Vershire. After graduating from the University of Montana in 1997, Nicole returned to the Green Mountain State to receive her teaching certificate from the post baccalaureate program at the University of Vermont. During the summers she worked at Shelburne Farms and Shelburne Orchards, combining her interests in education and agriculture. A winding road brought Nicole from teaching 3rd grade in Guatemala to placing high school students on farms with Vermont Farm Youth Core to working for the certification program at NOFA-VT. She started working at NOFA-VT in May, 2003, and has been here ever since.

Willie Gibson

Willie Gibson is one of NOFA-VT’s Dairy and Livestock Advisors. Willie grew up with dairy farming as a 7th generation Vermonter. He spent 15 years with UVM Extension as an agriculture agent/specialist, focusing on grass-based, family farming. He and his wife, Martha, and their children have a small farm on the Connecticut River in Ryegate, VT, raising food crops, grass-based poultry, cattle, equine, and whatever else makes sense (or not) along the way.

Wendy Sue Harper, Ph.D.

Wendy Sue Harper, Ph.D., is NOFA-VT's Farmer Education Coordinator. Previously, she worked eighteen years at the University of Vermont as a Senior Lecturer of Soil Science and Ecological Agriculture in the Department of Plant and Soil Science, Program Manager for the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program, and Extension Horticulturist. Since 1998 she has inspected farms for organic certification for Vermont Organic Farmers and provided technical assistance on soils and composting issues to NOFA-VT. Wendy Sue is fascinated by the world of soils and is an avid gardener.

Jean Hamilton

Jean Hamilton is NOFA-VT Farm Share Coordinator and also works with Vermont Food Education Every Day (VT FEED). She has been working on organic farms for about seven years and is delighted to now be working with NOFA Vermont to help improve consumer accessibility to the delicious food that the farmers of Vermont are growing. While dreaming of starting her own farm, Jean managed to earn a bachelors degree from Middlebury College in Environmental Studies and Religion. When not cooking, eating, or otherwise thinking about food, Jean can be found playing banjo with her husband, Caleb.

Brenda Hedges

Brenda Hedges started working for the VOF certification program as a certification specialist in January 2008. She previously operated Greystone Gardens, an organic bedding plant business and Undercover Farms, where she grew hydroponic lettuce. Brenda has a bachelor’s degree in Human Development from the University of Vermont. When not at work; she keeps busy at her farmstead in Waterbury Center; growing vegetables, tending horses, and maintaining an 1860’s farmhouse with her husband, Mike.

Meg Klepack

Meg Klepack is NOFA Vermont's part-time Outreach Coordinator and newsletter editor. Her other jobs include farm crew member with Intervale Community Farm, and winter market organizer with the Burlington Farmers' Market Asssociation. She graduated from Cornell University with a B.S. in Natural Resources Management. Meg is an enthusiastic old-time fiddle player, and spends her free time in the woods.

Abbie Nelson

Abbie Nelson is the Education Coordinator of NOFA Vermont and the VT Food Education Every Day (VT FEED) Co-director involved in all aspects of local purchasing and professional development of school food service. She has been a teacher for over 20 years in regular and special education, and worked on an organic vegetable and flower farm. As part of NOFA Vermont and a VT FEED partner, she has been working in Vermont schools linking Food, Farm, and Nutrition education for 8 years. Her role has been focused on school food by connecting kitchen managers with local farmers, helping farmers with agricultural education on their farms, training school food service personnel, and teaching school staff how to introduce new foods to students.

Becca Weiss

Becca Weiss has been at NOFA Vermont since 2002 as office assistant and Share the Harvest Coordinator. She has also helped out with membership, the Apprentice Directory, the annual Winter Conference, in the certification office, and with the Food Education Every Day (VT FEED) program. Becca has an MFA in studio art and has worked in both her own studio and in environmental education since 1990. She has three children and a wonderful husband who share her love for gardening and nature.

Enid Wonnacott

Enid Wonnacott has been the Executive Director of NOFA Vermont since 1987. She received her Bachelor of Science in Biology from St. Lawrence University and her Masters in Natural Resource Planning from the University of Vermont. Enid was raised on a small farm in Weybridge, VT and spent most of her childhood dreaming about becoming a large animal veterinarian. She now lives on a small farmstead with her family in Huntington.