Steward Reception Remarks 2024

Chief Advancement Officer Robin Turnau welcomed everyone to the 2024 Steward Reception and introduced Board Chair Andrew Meyer, who reported that a highlight of the past year was the board's work updating the organization's strategic planning framework. He thanked all Shelburne Farms donors, at every level of giving, who make our work possible. Andrew expressed appreciation for the close working partnership with Shelburne Farms president Alec Webb. 

Alec's Remarks

Thank you Andrew. Shelburne Farms wouldn’t be here without the care, wisdom, and guidance of such a great board and group of advisors. And we wouldn’t be here without each of you and our whole community of supporters. It’s such an honor to be part of this whole endeavor with so many wonderful people! 

The nonprofit at Shelburne Farms was formed 52 years ago in response to the environmental and social issues of our time. The question and concern was and still is: what can we do to help build healthy ecosystems and communities? How can we bend the arc of the evolution and stewardship of this particular place for greater social benefit?

The early threat of Shelburne Farms being developed presented an opportunity for taking a different path forward. It was an opportunity for land stewardship and for developing programs and educational resources that could benefit our local community and at the same time have a positive impact globally.

We aspire to be an organization that operates based on clear, common sense values and guiding principles, without presuming to have all the answers or being ideological in our views. We always want to be open to new ideas and different perspectives, continually learning and improving. We want to be a respectful and trusted collaborator and convenor, providing common ground for grappling with challenging  issues. The complexity of the world we’re living in today seems more daunting than ever. Shelburne Farms is doing what we can, with what we have, to make a real difference in as many lives as possible. 

While our work is grounded here – it’s really about communities, educators, and students, everywhere, working to build a better future together. 

Last year, we shared an update on the launch of the Institute for Sustainable Schools and our plans for rehabilitating the Coach Barn as our convening center for community gatherings and programs- these are two major elements of the $50M Campaign for Shelburne Farms that we’ve been quietly working on over the past few years.

I am really pleased to report that, thanks to our Board and volunteer Campaign Committee    and wonderfully generous leadership donors, today we have just over $2M left to raise by December 31^st to reach our $50M campaign goal! 

Why the December 31st deadline? When we meet our goal this year, we will receive an additional $5M challenge grant from the Robert W. Wilson Trust to cover what turned out to be a much larger scope of work at the Coach Barn and a significant  increase in construction costs from our early estimates!  The Robert Wilson Trustees really want to ensure Shelburne Farms’ success, which is why they have given us this huge incentive. If we don’t make the goal, we don’t get the $5M. If we do make the goal, we get the additional $5M! So we are in the home stretch. Every last gift to the campaign is going to have an unbelievable great immediate return on investment!  An investment that is critical for the social impact and sustainability of Shelburne Farms.  

Additional campaign elements include the Windmill Hill Conservation Project (allowing us to expand our walking trail network through one of the most beautiful areas of the farm), the completion of the formal gardens’ restoration, the exterior repairs of the Breeding Barn, continuing landscape and infrastructure improvements, kicking off our climate action project, building endowment, and more.

When we think of what this campaign is making possible, I would have bet a lot of money I wouldn’t have lived to see the day that the gardens were restored, or the Breeding Barn coming back to life, or having Windmill Hill conserved and open for everyone to enjoy into the future. It’s truly amazing. 

There’s a connection between what each of us cares most about and what is happening here, whether it has to do with programs for youth, professional support for educators, life-long learning opportunities, land conservation, preserving historic resources, climate action, healthy food systems, or simply stewarding and sharing a beautiful landscape. What makes Shelburne Farms unique, and what is always amazing to experience, is how much comes together in one organization and place!

There are a lot of challenges and opportunities that still lay ahead. We hope you will continue on this journey with us. Along with the farm’s board, staff, and volunteers, as supporters of Shelburne Farms, the future of the nonprofit here is really in your hands now. Thank you so much!

Megan Camp started here in 1983 and serves as our Executive Vice President and we’ve been working together a long time now! 

Megan Camp's Remarks

I can close my eyes and remember as I am sure all of you can, my first visit walking onto Shelburne Farms. It’s one of those magical experiences that stays with you forever. 

Many of us find our way to the Farm through different paths. I came 40 years ago as a very young educator, eager to learn from the organization that had created an innovative model for what education could be.

When I think back to that first day, I remember coming through the gates, it was a misty March morning, and when I think about what the farm looked like back then, it’s hard to believe how far we’ve come. And many of us have come on this road together. At that time, many of the buildings were on the verge of collapse, even though we sometimes referred to them as needing a little bit of deferred maintenance. It was a property that needed a lot of love and care, but the people and the place inspired excitement and hope for the future. 

Fast forward to today, and Shelburne Farms is a vibrant, dynamic campus. It’s a campus for learning—an example of what can happen when you bring together both vision and generosity. On any given day, many of you have been here, you might stop down at the farm store and pick up fresh strawberries and connect with a community member, or take a walk with a dear friend or family member. 

Or you might stop by the Farm Barn and run into a visitor who has never seen a cow in real life, up close, and see them discover this is where our food comes from and understand the alchemy of turning milk into cheese.

Or you might run into campers running down the hill or local students exploring the forest, fields, farms, ponds and lakeshore with their eyes full of wonder and curiosity. Or you might go up to the gardens and see guests soaking in a bath of beauty and witnessing the sunset, leaving them washed with peace and gratitude for this amazing place and this planet. 

Over the years we have been trying to build a brighter future, and one of the pillars for that future is our Institute for Sustainable Schools, which will soon find its new home in the Coach Barn. It will be a one-of-a-kind historic green building that will help us walk the talk.  Imagine it: a hub for teaching, learning, and innovation, and a place where educators come from around the world and leave as renewed and inspired change makers. 

We reported last year about our new partnership with the University of Vermont to start a new graduate program in Education for Sustainability. This summer we graduated our first full cohort, and I think they are a testament to how important this partnership and program is. You didn’t get a chance to meet them, but I’m going to share a few words from some of this summer’s participants: 

•  WOW! What a workshop. I am indeed a different educator after this week. My idea of what is possible in the classroom: the depth of impact I can have...has been totally changed. 
• It’s not just about the students' learning, it's about connecting them to the world; it is about joy and wonder, I didn't want to blink. At every turn, there was inspiration and excitement. I am going to leave as a refreshed, reenergized teacher, looking at ways I can change my teaching practices. 
• Thanks for this incredible experience! My time at the Institute will forever change my future. I am leaving with the same feeling I used to have when I left sleepaway camp! It was a wonderful journey of a week of sharing and learning about sustainability and connecting with educators worldwide.

Thank you for your ongoing support to make these programs possible. Your belief in education, and the importance of community and this place is what fuels our work every day. We’re trying to build a future where Shelburne Farms will continue to thrive, innovate, and inspire for generations to come.

Heidi Webb's Remarks

How wonderful to be here with all of you. As we take this moment to pause, reflect back, and look ahead….I’m filled with so much excitement and gratitude. 

It’s really hard to put into words just how much your generosity means to us. Your support is a profound expression of your values and your many connections to Shelburne Farms. It’s a reflection of what is most meaningful to you and your family. It’s a demonstration of your commitment, and in my mind, your contributions are true acts of love…..collectively all leaving a shared legacy that will last far beyond our lifetimes. 

With your unwavering support, we have made incredible strides. You’ve inspired us to reach above and beyond - so that Shelburne Farms, which is dedicated to the idea of sustainability, can itself be sustainable for years to come. As Alec mentioned earlier, we’re in the home stretch of the campaign!! We are determined to meet the generous challenge grant presented by the Robert W. Wilson Trustees and it’s critical that we raise the remaining $2 Million needed to meet our goal by the end of the year. Now, we need your help.

We fully appreciate the generosity of all our stewards, our Legacy Circle Members, and all of you who have helped get us to this point in the Campaign. We recognize that many people are already giving everything they can.  The smallest gift, we know, can reflect the greatest generosity – just recently a little girl mailed us all of her tooth fairy money.

So thank you, for your treasured gifts, and for being the beating heart of Shelburne Farms. You are the driving force behind its success. 

And now, we’re delighted to share a short video with a few voices and faces from around the farm that reflect our abundant gratitude.