Our Board

VGFA’s Board of Directors manage the budget, oversee member activities and outreach, help organize the annual grazing and livestock conference, and represent grass-based livestock farmers at the state and regional events/activities.

Colene Reed

President

Colene Reed is an organic conservation specialist for the East Region for Oregon Tilth in partnership with the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) acting as a bridge between organic producers and NRCS staff. With deep roots in organic vegetable production and grass-based livestock systems, Colene brings a farmer’s wisdom and educator’s heart to the board. Over the years, she has worked as a farmer at farm-based education organizations such as Merck Forest and Farmland Center and Farm and Wilderness Foundation. Her connection to the board stems from a shared vision: one shaped by livestock grazing "messy" pastures, and feeding healthy soils. 

What I value most about VGFA:

I value the Vermont Grass Farmers Association for its commitment to regenerative grazing and soil health. The association reflects my belief that well-managed pastures and healthy ecosystems are central to resilient farming, and it fosters a knowledgeable community grounded in shared purpose and practical experience.

Phelan O’ Connor

Treasurer

Phelan O’Connor is co-owner of Pigasus Meats in South Hero, Vermont, where he and his wife manage pasture-raised pigs and laying hens across 100 acres, stewarding a total of 170 acres. With a focus on innovation in monogastric grazing, Phelan is experimenting with high-density rotational grazing of pigs, planting diverse forage mixes, and developing systems that benefit both livestock and wildlife. His work is rooted in a deep curiosity about soil health, land stewardship, and animal impact. Phelan is also a member of the Land Care Congress, a farmer-led cooperative focused on ecological design and community resilience through grazing.

Phelan holds a degree from Warren Wilson College, where he and his wife gained hands-on experience on the school’s 275-acre pasture-based farm. Since 2013, he has continued to refine his approach to managed grazing—particularly with pigs—and brings a unique, systems-thinking perspective to the pasture-based farming community.

What I value most about VGFA:

I believe deeply in the power of forage-based agriculture to reshape our food system for the better. VGFA is already doing the critical work of education, advocacy, and support for grazers. I’m excited by the opportunity to contribute to that mission and continue to learn alongside a community of passionate farmers.

Clara Fernandez Odell

Vice-President/Secretary

Clara Fernandez Odell currently works with the Essex County Natural Resources Conservation District (NRCD), where she supports agricultural conservation and land stewardship efforts in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom. Previously, Clara managed Tamarack Sheep Farm, a pasture-based sheep operation in central Vermont that produced lamb, wool, and hay on 160 acres. During her time at Tamarack, she embraced the unique rhythms of New England agriculture and deepened her knowledge of rotational grazing and livestock care.

Originally from northern Colorado, Clara was shaped by the landscapes of extensively managed rangeland and developed an early fascination with the interplay of soil, plants, livestock, and wildlife. Before moving to Vermont, she gained hands-on experience working in organic vegetable production, rangeland monitoring, and on cattle and hay operations. Clara holds a B.A. in Environmental Science.

What I value most about VGFA:

I value the Vermont Grass Farmers Association as a place where farmers connect, support each other, and share the challenges and joys of working the land. I’m particularly interested in strengthening the presence of farm workers and young agrarians within VGFA, expanding its reach to include those deeply involved in grazing and haymaking who may not own land but are integral to Vermont’s agricultural landscape.

William Gibson

Board Member

William (Willie) Gibson has been immersed in farming and grazing systems since the 1960s, bringing decades of hands-on experience, education, and leadership to Vermont’s agricultural community. A graduate of the University of Vermont with a degree in Animal Science, Willie began his formal career in agricultural outreach as a UVM Extension agent and grazing specialist from 1988 to 2003. He later worked with NOFA-VT, spent several years in the private agronomy and seed sector, and now splits his time between two part-time roles: as a mentor with the Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship program via UVM Extension and as a Soil Health Agronomist with the White River Natural Resources Conservation District.

Since 1991, Willie has also practiced managed grazing on his own homestead farm, raising cattle, sheep, poultry, and equines. A student of Bill Murphy’s pioneering work in rotational grazing, Willie has been a strong advocate, teacher, and designer of grazing systems for dairy, beef, and sheep producers across Vermont. He played a leading role in securing the first cost-share funding for grazing infrastructure in Washington County in 1989 and is a co-founder of the Vermont Grass Farmers Association.

What I value most about VGFA:

I value VGFA as a long-standing, farmer-driven organization that has always prioritized practical knowledge-sharing, peer support, and on-the-ground learning. It’s a place where both new and seasoned graziers can come together to explore the art and science of managed grazing, build community, and advance a shared vision of healthy soils, healthy animals, and resilient farms.

Bruce Hennessey

Board Member

Bruce Hennessey grew up in the Finger Lakes of New York, where he had plenty of adventures hiking, skiing, biking, and working with horses. After earning degrees in anthropology, mathematics, and a master’s in education, he spent several years teaching in both traditional classrooms and alternative learning environments. Bruce also worked as a ski and mountain guide in the Rockies and abroad before starting an adventure travel business with his partner, Beth Whiting. Eventually, the two shifted their focus to grass farming after starting a family, and together they’ve operated Maple Wind Farm in Richmond, Vermont, for over twenty-five years. Maple Wind Farm is a regional leader in producing pasture-raised poultry, eggs, pork, and beef— focusing on regenerating soil health and protecting water resources.

With his professional experience rooted in education, Bruce has deeply valued educational opportunities and peer-to-peer learning within the pastured-based community. Bruce serves on the board of the American Pastured Poultry Producers Association (APPPA), contributing to national conversations around pastured poultry production.

What I value most about VGFA:

We value connecting and sharing ideas with our farm and local food community. We continue to learn to graze through this organizations many programs and initiatives. But VGFA doesn't end with grass and soil, it goes beyond to help farmers bring their products to market, become better business people, and spur research into more effective processes.

Michael Kirk

Board Member

Michael Kirk is the Head Butcher at Philo Ridge Farm, where he oversees the butchery operation for meat sold in the farm’s market and restaurant. Michael also co-owns and operates Greylaine Farm with his partner, where they raise Dorset × Ile de France sheep on pasture, focusing on quality grass-based genetics and meat lamb production.

Michael began his meat-cutting career at the former Green Pasture Meats, gaining firsthand experience in USDA-inspected slaughter and small-scale meat processing.

A passionate cook and educator, Michael teaches butchery classes at Philo Ridge Farm, using the craft as a way to engage people with the broader story of livestock farming. He also enjoys building and refining on-farm systems—whether designing pasture waterlines or improving infrastructure—with a constant eye toward learning and progress.

What I value most about VGFA:

I value VGFA as a community that brings together farmers, graziers, and land stewards who care deeply about raising animals well and caring for the land. It creates space for peer learning, shared experience, and honest conversations about what it takes to produce high-quality, pasture-raised meat in Vermont.