Bruce Hennessey, along with his partner Beth Whiting, and a host of talented young farmers, has run Maple Wind Farm in Richmond and Bolton, VT for the last 20 years. The farm produces 100% grass fed beef, pasture-raised pork, poultry and eggs, along with operating a small USDA inspected on-farm poultry processing plant. The farms mission: To promote the health and welfare of our community, by producing the highest-quality pasture-raised products, through regenerating soil and water resources. Bruce prepared for this calling through a long apprenticeship as a mountain and ski guide, classroom teacher and experiential educator in locations across the U.S. and around the world. On those excursions he experienced firsthand compelling evidence of climate change and now deals with the consequences of those changes on his own farm. Bruce now focuses on building soil, and educating farmers and consumers to do the same by participating in local, regional and national events.

Judith D. Schwartz is an author and journalist whose work explores nature-based solutions to global environmental and economic challenges. She writes on this topic for numerous publications and speaks at venues across the United States and internationally. She is the author of “Cows Save the Planet”, “Water In Plain Sight”, and a forthcoming book on the global eco-restoration movement. Her home base is Bennington, Vermont.

Karen Washington has lived in New York City all her life, and has spent decades promoting urban farming as a way for all New Yorkers to access to fresh, locally grown food.

Karen has been a resident of the Bronx for over 34 years, although in 2015 she began living part time in Orange County, NY near the farm. Since 1985 Karen has been a community activist, striving to make New York City a better place to live. As a community gardener and board member of the New York Botanical Gardens, Karen worked with Bronx neighborhoods to turn empty lots into community gardens. As an advocate, she stood up and spoken out for garden protection and preservation. As a member of the La Familia Verde Community Garden Coalition, she helped launched a City Farms Market, bringing garden fresh vegetables to her neighbors. Karen is a food advocate and trainer leading workshops on food growing and food justice for community gardeners all over the country. Karen is the former president of the New York City Community Garden Coalition, a group that was founded to preserve community gardens. She also co-founded Black Urban Growers (BUGS), an organization of volunteers committed to building networks and community support for growers in both urban and rural settings. In 2012 Ebony magazine voted her one of their 100 most influential African Americans in the country, and in 2014 she was awarded with the James Beard Leadership Award.

David Zuckerman is the co-founder of Full Moon Farm, a NOFA-certified organic farm in Hinesburg, Vermont.
Inspired by then Congressman Sanders, David first ran for the Vermont House in 1994 while enrolled at the University of Vermont. He lost by 59 votes but came back two years later to become the fourth Progressive Party member ever to serve in Montpelier.
David served for fourteen years (1997-2010) in the Vermont House of Representatives representing the City of Burlington in Chittenden 3-4. He served on the Natural Resources and Energy Committee (6 years), Agriculture Committee (6 years, 4 as Chair) and Ways and Means Committee (2 years). David’s leadership spans a number of issues including renewable energy, affordable housing, livable wages, cannabis reform, GMO legislation, universal healthcare, progressive taxation, marriage equality, and end of life choices.
David served in the Vermont Senate as a Progressive/Democrat for two terms, from 2012-2015. He served as Vice-Chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and on the Senate Committee on Education.
In 2016, David was elected Lieutenant Governor as a Progressive/Democrat. On January 5, 2017, he was sworn in as the 80th Lieutenant Governor of Vermont.
David has been recognized by the following Vermont organizations for his leadership in Montpelier:
Energy Independent Vermont Coalition (2016 Outstanding Legislator Award)
Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility (2014 Legislator of the Year)
Renewable Energy Vermont (2013 Legislative Champion)
The Vermont Natural Resources Council (2008)
Women Helping Battered Women (2007)
The Vermont Children’s Forum (2002 Vermont Legislators for Children) 

His service includes:
The Burlington Electric Commission (1995-1998)
The American Farm Bureau’s Young Farmer and Rancher Committee (2002-2004)
Inaugural member of Young Elected Officials
Membership on the Chittenden County Farm Bureau
Membership in the Northeast Organic Farming Association-VT
Membership in Rural Vermont
Served on the Burlington Ward 1 Neighborhood Planning Assembly (NPA)
David is a UVM graduate (Class of 1995), with a degree in Environmental Studies. He was awarded the Keith Miser Award at graduation for contributions to campus leadership.
He lives with his wife and daughter in Hinesburg, Vermont.  

Peter comes to the Strolling of the Heifers after many years working as a landscape construction project manager. He is also an experienced bike tour planner, and has organized and run many successful charity bike events. As project manager for Windham Grows he is looking forward to using his skills to help our farm and food cohort participants thrive and create new jobs in our community and statewide.

As Windham Grows program manager Peter will also be working on the Farm to Table Culinary Apprenticeship Program, Slow Living Summit, Tour de Heifer, and the small business accelerator. In his role with the Strolling of the Heifers he enjoys contributing to an organization that provides so many benefits to the Town of Brattleboro and the State of Vermont.