Flanders Receives Land Stewards Award

HARDWICK – Wyatt Flanders of Hardwick received a Land Stewards Award presented by the Vermont Land Trust, along with a check for $300. Seven other students across the state also received awards.

“We are proud to announce eight winners of this year’s Land Stewards Award, and we congratulate Wyatt,” said Nick Richardson, President & CEO of the Vermont Land Trust. “His commitment to Vermont and our working lands inspire confidence in our future!”

Flanders spends most days milking, cleaning, and feeding 120 head of cattle, or haying and fertilizing their grazing fields. And that’s just at home. He also works at the LeBlanc Dairy Farm, where he holds many of the same duties.

At Green Mountain Technology & Career Center, Flanders learned about maple sugaring, sugarbush management, and sustainable timber harvesting.

“Wyatt truly cares about the land and the animals on the land,” said his Forestry & Land Management Instructor, Meghan Luther, who described his work managing forest openings at his family’s land and planting apple trees to benefit wildlife.

Flanders plans to continue to work on his family farm and the LeBlanc farm. He is also job shadowing with a local timber harvesting and tree service company. His future plans are to incorporate both of these industries, logging in the winter months and farming the rest of the year.

“I grew up farming and hunting,” said Flanders. “I know the importance of managing the land both to benefit our farm animals and for Vermont’s wildlife. I enjoy being hands-on and working outside and keeping these Vermont traditions alive.”

Since 2005, the Vermont Land Trust has recognized outstanding high-school students who are dedicated to agriculture and forestry. Juniors and seniors enrolled in agricultural, food, and natural resource programs in Vermont schools are nominated by their teachers.