All of us at NOFA will miss Abbie for her incredible can-do attitude and her unwavering commitment to the organization. She has made a profound and lasting contribution to the Vermont food system, and Vermont's school food programs.
This is the message Abbie shared with staff, Board, and partners:
"I wanted to let you know that I will be retiring and leaving NOFA-VT at the end of December 2019.
Initially, I had planned for my transition to happen at the end of 2018, but delayed it due to Enid’s retirement and passing. I decided to remain on the team through the transition to help hire and welcome NOFA's new ED and also in order to finish a strong new strategic plan. Now that we've done both those things, it's time for me to make my plans known. My husband and I will be readying our house for sale, in the Spring of 2020, and moving to the DC area for an adventure in urban living and, primarily, to be closer to our 3 grown kids.
My position over the last many years at NOFA has varied and grown over these almost 21 years. I started organizing an Ag Education conference in 1999, developed the Farm to Community Mentor program with Enid and did Ag Education workshops, and then on the local purchasing and program director for our VT FEED partnership. We will be developing a job description to continue our food system work at NOFA, especially Farm to School!
I have loved working at NOFA, and with all of the organizations and partners over the 20 years, on all of the various and creative projects and will miss the work, but mostly the people, and definitely VT. I look forward to remaining an adviser and friend to NOFA-VT from DC and am excited for the organization's next chapter."
You helped drive a movement that I wanted to be part of. You never let up and the never ending support you have given, not only to farm to school folks but the Vermont school food programs, has been vital to our success. Thank you for the hours and hours of dedication to this cause and for keeping us all on our toes!
- Gretchen Czaja, Healthy Foods Educator & Director, Windham Central Supervisory Union
Thanks for all you have done to make Vermont and Vermont agriculture better in so many ways. You are a joy to work with and have added depth, value and character to the many arenas and communities with which you have worked.
- Chuck Ross, Director, UVM Extension
