About NOFA-VT

Kirsten Bower

Kirsten Bower is NOFA VT’s Financial Manager and has worked with NOFA for over 18 years. Her previous positions include Office Manager, VOF Certification Inspector, and 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, and their dog Luna.

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.

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 garden.

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-VT 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.

Meg Klepack

Meg Klepack is NOFA-VT’s Office Manager, Newsletter Editor, Membership and Outreach Coordinator, and Jack-Of-All-Trades. She graduated from Cornell University with a B.S. in Natural Resources Management. Prior to joining NOFA-VT, Meg worked as a Community Organizer with Toxics Action Center, in Montpelier. 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-VT 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-VT 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 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-VT 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.