[APPLAUSE]>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "RURAL STORIES ON STAGE," LIVE AT THE CENTER FOR THE ARTS HERE IN RANDOLPH.

I AM JANE LINDHOLM.

I AM SO PLEASED TO BE HERE, AND I AM SO PLEASED TO BE JOINED BY ALL OF YOU TONIGHT IN WHAT I HOPE WILL BE AN EVENING OF CONNECTION AND REFLECTION AND SOME REALLY WONDERFUL STORY-TELLING, SO THANK YOU ALL SOME REALLY WONDERFUL WHAT A PLEASURE TO BE WITH YOU.

THOSE OF US WHO CALL THIS STATE HOME ARE VERMONTERS.

BUT, WE COME TO THAT IDENTITY IN A MYRIAD OF WAYS, AND WITH DIVERGENT AND INTERTWINING LIFE STORIES.

TONIGHT WE ARE GOING TO HEAR FROM FIVE VERMONTERS WHOSE STORIES ILLUMINATE THE CHALLENGES AND THE JOYS OF LIVING IN VERMONT.

AND WE ALL HAVE THOSE, DON'T WE, BOTH CHALLENGES AND JOYS AND NOT ALWAYS IN EQUAL MEASURE.

WE HAVE CRAFTED THIS EVENING TO HIGHLIGHT BOTH THE CHALLENGES WE HAVE CRAFTED THIS EVENING TO US, THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE CHERISH ABOUT OUR LIVES HERE, AND WAYS THAT WE REALLY WANT TO MAKE VERMONT BETTER, STRONGER.

OUR STORYTELLERS COME FROM THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AROUND HERE.

ONE OWN AS GENERAL STORE.

ONE WORKS IN A LOCAL SCHOOL.

ONE IS TRYING TO BUILD AN OLD HILL FARM AND BRING IT BACK TO LIFE.

ONE IS WORKING IN MANUFACTURING, LEADING A COMPANY THAT SUPPLIES JOBS TO THE REGION.

AND ONE IS STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HER LIFE HERE HOLDS FOR HER.

SOME HAVE LIVED HERE THEIR WHOLE LIVES, AND OTHERS GREW UP HERE AND CAME BACK.

AND ALL HAVE MADE VERMONT HOME BY CHOICE.

AND NOT ALWAYS THE EASIEST CHOICE.

THEY ARE GOING TO SHARE THEIR STORIES WITH YOU TONIGHT, AND I THINK THAT I WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO ASK EACH OF THEM SOME QUESTIONS THAT DIVE INTO WHAT THEY HAVE TOLD US IN THEIR STORIES.

THIS IS ALL PART OF THE VPR AND VERMONT PBS'S COLLABORATION CALLED "THIS LAND."

IT'S A PROJECT EXPLORING THE CHANGING STORY OF RURAL VERMONT AND WHAT IT'S LIKE TO LIVE HERE AS WELL AS WHAT THE FUTURE MIGHT HOLD FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF VERMONTERS.

THE COLLABORATION INCLUDES AN EXTENSIVE SURVEY THAT POLLED 800 VERMONTERS.

A DOCUMENTARY SERIES ON VERMONT PBS, MANY REPORTED SERIES ON VPR AND VERMONT EDITION CONVERSATION, AND OF COURSE, THIS EVENING TONIGHT.

IN SOME WAYS A CULMINATION OF ALL OF THE HARD WORK THAT HAS GONE INTO THIS PROJECT.

OUR FIRST STORYTELLER TONIGHT IS MORGAN EASTON.

MORGAN IS ROOTED IN THIS COMMUNITY.

THOSE DEEP TIES SUPPORT AND CONNECT HER, BUT KNOWING EVERYONE IN TOWN COMES WITH ITS OWN TENSION, TOO.

A YOUNG ADULT, MORGAN IS THE KIND OF PERSON VERMONT POLICY-MAKERS SAY THAT THEY WANT TO KEEP HERE.

IT'S NOT ALWAYS EASY TO STAY.

PLEASE WELCOME MORGAN EASTON.

[APPLAUSE] >> I GREW UP HERE.

MY MOTHER GREW UP HERE, AND MY GRANDMOTHER GREW UP HERE.

MY GREAT GRANDFATHER WAS THE BARBER IN TOWN.

I WAS SUPPOSED TO GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL IN 2010.

I WAS REALLY ENGAGED IN MY COMMUNITY GROWING UP, BUT I WAS NOT SO ENGAGED IN MY EDUCATION.

IN MY SENIOR YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL MY PARENTS ALLOWED ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO HOST SAN EXCHANGE STUDENT, HOPING THAT THAT WOULD COMPEL ME TO GRADUATE HIGH SCHOOL ON-TIME, BUT I STILL MANAGED TO SKATE UNDER THE RADAR MY SENIOR YEAR.

I WAS LITERALLY SKATEBOARDING.

I REMEMBER GRADUATION DAY, I WAS SKATEBOARDING IN TOWN AS MY PEERS PREPARED TO WALK ACROSS THE STAGE AND SHARE THEIR PLANS FOR THE FUTURE.

I DID MANAGE TO GET TO THE SCHOOL FOR THE CEREMONY, AND I TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO REFLECT IN MY OWN WAY.

I SKATEBOARDED THROUGH THE EMPTY HALLWAYS AND PASSED MY HANDS OVER THE CLASSROOMS, AND I MANAGED TO AVOID ENTERING OVER FOUR YEARS, AND I ASSISTANT IN THE BACK OF THE TENT, AND I HOPED NO ONE WOULD ASK ME WHY I WAS NOT ON THE STAGE.

I ENDED UP GETTING CALLED ON THE STAGE, THOUGH, TO PARTICIPATE IN THE EXCHANGE OF FLAGS WITH MY EXCHANGE STUDENT, SO I JOINED HER ON THE STAGE, IN MY SWEATY T-SHIRT AND MY SHORTS, AND IN FRONT OF A SEA OF MY CLASSMATES IN CAP AND GOWN, AND I REMEMBER HAVING A HARD TIME SEEING WHO WAS IN THE AUDIENCE THROUGH MY TEARS OF EMBARRASSMENT.

SO AFTER THAT, I WAS DONE WITH SCHOOL BUT I WAS NOT REALLY DONE WITH HIGH SCHOOL.

I JUST WORKED IN LANDSCAPING AND CHILDCARE AND DID SOME TRAVELING, BUT I ALWAYS CAME BACK, AND THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT COMING HOME TO VERMONT WHERE SO MANY PEOPLE COME TO VISIT.

WHERE SO MANY PEOPLE COME TO THAT CAN'T REALLY BE DESCRIBED.

SO IN 2012 I FINISHED SCHOOL, AND I WANTED TO DO MORE FOR MY COMMUNITY.I DIDN'T REALLY KNOW WHAT CAPACITY I WOULD BE ABLE TO DO SO, AND I DIDN'T REALLY KNOW WHAT SORT OF OPPORTUNITIES I SHOULD PURSUE, SO IN JANUARY OF 2013 I WANDERED UP TO THE LOCAL COLLEGE, VERMONT TECH, AND I ENROLLED IN A MATH AND ENGLISH CLASS.

ENROLLED IN A MATH AND ENGLISH HIGHER EDUCATION, AND FOUND A PROGRAM THAT I REALLY LOVED AND GRADUATED IN 2018, WITH A DEGREE IN ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY AND SUSTAINABILITY DESIGN.

[APPLAUSE] I DID A LOT.

I WAS REALLY INVOLVED.

AND I STILL MANAGED TO DOUBLE MY GPA FROM HIGH SCHOOL, SO THERE IS -- YEAH.

THERE IS ONLY FOUR POINTS IN A GPA, AND I WAS NOT A HIGH HONOR STUDENT.

GPA, AND I WAS NOT A HIGH HONOR IN SCHOOL WAS SERVING ON THE VERMONT STATE COLLEGE'S BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

VERMONT STATE COLLEGE'S BOARD OF POPULATION ACROSS THE FIVE-STATE COLLEGES.THAT WAS A REALLY UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE IN COLLEGE.

I THINK IT REALLY SOLIDIFIED MY PASSION FOR INVOLVEMENT.

SO, SAY GRADUATED, AND I KNEW THROUGH SCHOOL, I REALLY APPRECIATED BEING CLOSE ENOUGH TO MY COMMUNITY TO WORK AND PLAY AND BE CLOSE TO MY FAMILY, AND SO I TOOK A JOB WITH AN ARCHITECT IN MONTPELIER.

WE DID SOME GREAT RESIDENTIAL AND COMMUNITY PROJECTS, AND HE COULDN'T KEEP ME ON THROUGH THE WINTER, SO I TOOK A JOB IN WEST LEBANON DOING HIGH-END RESIDENTIAL DESIGN WORK.

AND, YOU KNOW, IT WAS 40 HOURS A WEEK, SMALL COMPANY.

BENEFITS.GOOD OFFICES BUT IT WAS NOT THE I GAVE THEM MY NOTICE IN THE SPRING AND FELT A SENSE OF RELIEF I DIDN'T REALLY EXPECT.

I CAME BACK TO MY COMMUNITY TO WORK IN LANDSCAPING WITH A LOCAL SOLAR COMPANY AND COACHING YOUTH MOUNTAIN BIKING AND SERVING ON VARIOUS COMMITTEES AND WORKING ON COMM COMMUNITY PROJECTS.

THERE IS A STIGMA ABOUT LIVING IN YOUR HOPE TOWN IN YOUR 20s, AND I DON'T MIND.

I LOVE IT HERE.

I LOVE SKIING AND BIKING OUT MY DOOR.I LOVE JOINING MY GRANDPARENTS FOR LUNCH IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK AND WATCHING MY NIECES GROW IN THE COMMUNITY THAT I AND MY MOTHER AND MY GRANDMOTHER GREW UP IN.

I EVEN LOVE BEING MISTAKEN FOR MY MOTHER AT THE HARDWARE STORE.

[LAUGHTER] SO EITHER SHE'S AGED REALLY WELL OR I HAVEN'T.

SO WHAT IF I HAVE TO PIECE TOGETHER WORK TO STAY CLOSE TO MY COMMUNITY?

WHAT DO YOU CALL A VERMONTER WITH TWO JOBS?

LAZY.

[APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU, MORGAN.

WHAT A PLEASURE TO TALK WITH YOU TONIGHT.>> THANK YOU.

>> SO IT'S INTERESTING, FINISHING SCHOOL WAS HARD FOR YOU IN SOME WAYS, BUT THE IDEA OF SERVICE TO OTHERS YOU NEVER QUESTION.IT WAS NOT ABOUT HARD WORK.

IT WAS SOMETHING ELSE IN SCHOOL.

YOU WANTED TO STAY IN YOUR COMMUNITY AND WORK TO MAKE IT BETTER.

COMMUNITY AND WORK TO MAKE IT INSTILLED THAT INTO YOU.

THAT'S SUCH A STRONG URGE AND WHY DOES IT REMAIN SUCH A STRONG URGE?

>> I GUESS I REALIZED IT WAS A STRONG URGE WHEN I WAS WORKING WITH THE STATE COLLEGE BOARD AND I WOULD GATHER THE OTHER STUDENT LEADERS FROM THE OTHER COLLEGES, AND ONE OF THE STUDENTS FROM CCV, SHE REALLY ADMIRED THAT I HAD BEEN IN THE SAME COMMUNITY, AND I WATCHED FAMILIES GROW AND PEOPLE AGE, AND NEW PEOPLE FOR OVER 20 YEARS.

AND THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE THE ABILITY TO EXPERIENCE.

SO, THAT WAS -- THAT RANG TRUE TO ME.

>> SOMETIMES YOUNG PEOPLE IN TO ME.

FOR ME, YOU SEE YOUR FRIENDS HAVING EXPERIENCES THAT ARE DIFFERENT FROM YOURS AND THERE IS THE PANG OF, OH!

I WISH THAT I COULD BE DOING THAT.

I WISH THAT I COULD BE DOING A LOT OF FULFILLMENT FROM BEING IN A SMALL TOWN AND BEING IN A SMALL COMMUNITY AND HAVING THOSE CONNECTIONS.IF YOU WERE TALKING TO ONE OF YOUR FRIENDS FROM HIGH SCHOOL SAYING, IT SEEMS LIKE YOUR LIFE IS BORING, HOW WOULD YOU COME BACK AT THAT?

>> THAT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME.

[LAUGHTER] >> THAT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME.

IT TOOK ME THREE YEARS TO START COLLEGE SO BY THE TIME I WAS STARTING SCHOOL, A LOT OF MY FRIENDS WERE STARTING MASTERS PROGRAMS, AND THEY KIND OF WOULD COME BACK AND TELL ME ABOUT EVERYTHING THEY WERE DOING AS IF I WAS NOT DOING ANYTHING AT ALL, SO NOW IT'S FIVE YEARS LATER, TEN YEARS OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL, AND THEY REALIZE THAT THERE IS A LOT HERE, AND I AM ENJOYING MYSELF, AND THERE IS A LOT THAT I HAVE GOING ON.

I AM FAIRLY BUSY AROUND THESE PARTS.THERE IS A LOT TO DO.

>> ARE THEY STARTING TO BE JEALOUS OF YOU AND MAYBE COMING BACK?>> I THINK THEY JUST ADMIRE IT.

THERE IS NOT AS MUCH JEALOUSY IS ADMIRATION FOR APPRECIATING THE PLACE THAT THEY GREW UP IN, WHETHER OR NOT THEY DECIDED TO COME BACK AND STAY.

>> ONE OF THE WAYS THAT YOU FOUND YOURSELF IN COLLEGE WAS YOU SAY YOU KIND OF WANDERED OVER TO VERMONT TECHNICAL COLLEGE, AND YOU KNOW, A BIT ENSURE OF WHAT YOU WANTED TO DO OR WHO YOU WANTED TO BECOME, AND IT'S FORTUNATE IN SOME WAYS THAT VTC WAS RIGHT THERE, IT'S IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

VTCAND THAT IS ONE OF THE IN CHALLENGES OF LIVING IN VERMONT IS THAT THOSE OPPORTUNITIES ARE NOT ALWAYS IN YOUR BACKYARD, AREN'T ALWAYS THERE.

DO YOU THINK THAT THAT'S A PROBLEM FOR THE STATE?

>> YEAH, I MEAN, THERE IS EVEN FOLKS IN THIS TOWN THAT I KNOW COULD BENEFIT FROM WANDERING UP TO VTC JUST IN THE SAME WAY THAT I DID.

AND IT CAN BE DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO EVEN GET UP TO THE COLLEGE FIVE MILES UP THE ROAD BECAUSE THEY MAY NOT HAVE TRANSPORTATION BUT COULD BENEFIT FOR THE OPPORTUNITIES OFFERED UP THERE JUST AS I DID.

SO, EVEN WITHIN SUCH A CLOSE PROXIMITY THERE IS THAT ISSUE.

>> YOU HAVE STUDENT LOANS?

>> YES.

YES.I HAVE A LOT LESS THAN MY FRIENDS WOULD HAVE FROM GOING OUT OF STATE, BUT IT'S, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING THAT I HAVE JUST TAKEN THE TIME TO LEARN FINANCIAL LITERACY FOR MYSELF BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE SOME PEOPLE IN MY GENERATION, A LOT OF US MISSED THAT IN OUR EARLIER EDUCATION.

I, ACTUALLY, REALLY JUST SKIP IT.

I, ACTUALLY, REALLY JUST SKIP OF THAT AND TO CRY ABOUT THE STATE OF THE AFFORDABILITY IN VERMONT, YOU FIRST HAVE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOURSELF AND REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT, WHAT YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH IN YOUR OWN FINANCIAL LIFE BEFORE YOU CAN SAY THAT THE FINANCIAL STATE OF THINGS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE.

SO, YEAH.

IT STARTED WITH ME FIRST, AND NOW I AM, YOU KNOW, I CAN TALK TO MORE PEOPLE MY AGE, A LITTLE MORE KNOWLEDGEABLY ABOUT HOW THEY CAN TAKE THE STEPS TO REALLY MAKE THIS AN AFFORDABLE HOME FOR THEM.

>> DO YOU HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE?

>> NO, I DON'T.

I TURN 26 IN THE FALL, AND SO I WAS STILL RIDING ON MY MOTHER'S HEALTH INSURANCE, AND I HAD THAT JOB I THOUGHT THAT I WOULD HAVE BENEFITS FOR, SO YOU KNOW, I AM NEARING THE TIME THAT I NEED TO FIGURE IT OUT.

AND THAT'S ANOTHER HARD PART OF YOU KNOW, TRYING TO MAKE A LIVING IN SO MANY WAYS.

>> THE LAST QUESTION THAT I WANT TO ASK YOU IS, ASIDE FROM THE HALLWAYS OF YOUR HIGH SCHOOL, WHERE IS THE BEST PLACE AROUND HERE TO SKATEBOARD?

>> IT USED TO BE THE OLD ETHAN ALLEN PLANT WHERE THERE WAS TWO DIFFERENT PADS AT DIFFERENT LEVELS.

THAT'S WHERE I SPENT THE DAY AT GRADUATION, AND WE HAD SOME COOL FEATURES BUILT THERE.

>> IT USED TO BE.

NOW WHERE DO YOU GO?

>> I DON'T REALLY SKATEBOARD.

I DO A LOT OF MOUNTAIN BIKING AND CROSS COUNTRY SKIING AROUND HERE, AND THE TRAIL NETWORKS THAT HAVE EXISTED FOR YEARS ARE REALLY GREAT, AND THEY ARE JUST GROWING, SO THERE IS A LOT TO DO.

GROWING, SO THERE IS A LOT TO >> MORGAN EASTON, THANK YOU VERY GROWING, SO THERE IS A LOT TO US AND TELLING US ABOUT YOUR LIFE.

US AND TELLING US ABOUT YOUR >> THANK YOU.

US AND TE[APPLAUSE]BOUT YOUR SO MORGAN HAS DECIDED TO STAY HERE, TO NURTURE THOSE ROOTS HER GREAT GRANDMOTHER, HER GRANDMOTHER, HER PARENTS NURTURED.I THINK HER GRANDMOTHER IS EVEN HERE TONIGHT?

IS SHE HERE?

HERE TONIGHT?

BUT MORGAN IS AT THE BEGINNING OF HER JOURNEY, OF FIGURING OUT HOW TO MAKE THIS LIFE WORK IN VERMONT.

WIWILL GILMAN IS A LITTLE FARTHR ALONG IN THAT JOURNEY.

HE HAS CHOSEN TO ATTRACT THE ARC OF HIS LIFE HERE IN VERMONT.

THOSE WHO LIVE IN THIS AREA PROBABLY GET THEIR GROCERIES AND CATCH UP WITH THEIR NEIGHBORS AT WILL'S STORE IN CHELSEA, AND THEY PROBABLY KNOW WILL, AS WELL.

HE LIVES RIGHT UPSTAIRS.

PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING WILL GILMAN TO THE STAGE.

PLEASE JOIN[APPLAUSE]COMING WILL >> HELLO.

>> THESE NICE FOLKS HAVE GIVEN ME FIVE MINUTES TO TALK ABOUT MY THREE FAVORITE SUBJECTS.

ME.

[LAUGHTER] MY STORE AND MY HOMETOWN OF CHELSEA.WHATHEY PROBABLY TOLD YOU ILIVE, SO FAR.

CHELSEA IS A TOWN OF ORANGE COUNTY, AND IT'S A PRETTY NICE PLACE.

BACK IN SEPTEMBER OF 1976, WHEN I WAS A JUNIOR AT UVM, I HAD A MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT, WHICH RESULTED IN A BROKEN NECK AND A SEVERED SPINAL CORD AT THE C4 LEVEL.

I SPENT FOUR MONTHS IN THE OLD MARY HITCHCOCK HOSPITAL, AND DOWN IN HANOVER, AND THEN WENT FOR ALMOST SIX MONTHS OF REHAB OUT AT CRAIG HOSPITAL IN DENVER, COLORADO.EVENTUALLY I RETURNED TO UVM, GRADUATED WITH MY DEGREE IN ACCOUNTING, AND I NEXT STUDIED FOR AND PASSED THE CPA EXAM, BUT EVEN WITH THE HELP OF VOC REHAB, I WAS UNABLE TO FIND A JOB.

SO AFTER ABOUT A YEAR OF TRYING, I DECIDED THE BEST THING THAT I COULD DO WAS TO HIRE MYSELF.

THERE WAS A LOCAL STORE IN TOWN, FRED DICKSON OWNED, AN OLD TIME DRUGSTORE, AND I ATTEMPTED TO PURCHASE THAT, BUT THE BANK WOULDN'T LOAN ME THE MINUTE.

SO A YEAR LATER, I FOUND THREE LOCAL INDIVIDUALS WHO WOULD LOAN ME THE MONEY, AND IN SEPTEMBER OF 1985, I BOUGHT THE STORE FROM FRED.WHO HAD BEEN RUNNING IT FOR 41 YEARS.AND THE STORE FOR MANY YEARS HAS SOLD WHAT YOU WOULD FIND IN AN OLD DRUGSTORE IS CANDY AND TOBACCO AND GREETING CARDS AND TOYS AND GIFTS AND IT ALSO HAD MORE THINGS THAT YOU FIND AT A CONVENIENCE STORE, BEER AND SODA, AND WE STILL SELL ALL OF THOSE THINGS, AND WE STILL USE THE SAME MACHINE TO MAKE OUR WONDERFUL HOMEMADE ICE CREAM, THAT FRED BOUGHT NEW BACK IN THE SPRING OF 1945.

[LAUGHTER] MY JOB AS A STORE KEEPER IS TO PROVIDE WHATEVER THE COMMUNITY WANTS, AND THAT REQUIRES LISTENING TO THEIR WANTS AND NEEDS, AND BEING ADAPTABLE.

AND IN THAT REGARD, WE SELL MORE GROCERIES THAN WE EVER SOLD.

WE ARE THE BIGGEST GROCERY STORE IN ABOUT A 12-MILE RADIUS.

WE CHANGED CONSIDERABLY IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS.

BACK WHEN I WAS 20 YEARS OLD, AND IN THE HOSPITAL I WAS VERY ILL AND VERY NEAR DEATH SEVERAL TIMES.MY MAIN FOCUS WAS JUST STAYING ALIVE AND WANTING TO GET HOME.

EVENTUALLY, MY BIG DAY CAME, AND MY MOM AND HER SISTER FLEW OUT TO DENVER, COLORADO, AND WE CAUGHT A FLIGHT BACK TO LOGAN AIRPORT IN BOSTON.

HOYT BATTY KNEW HIS WAY AROUND BOSTON, SO HE DROVE MY DAD DOWN TO MEET US.

MY BROTHER AND A FRIEND DROVE A VAN DOWN.

TO BRING PLE -- TO BRING ME ANDY GEAR BACK HOME.

THEY EXPECTED I WOULD, TIRED FROM THE FLIGHT FROM DENVER SO THEY LAID A PIECE OF FOAM IN THE BACK OF THE VAN TO LAY ME ON FOR THE TRIP HOME.

WE HEADED FOR CHELSEA.

AFTER WE HAD GONE AROUND IN A CIRCLE TWO OR THREE TIMES.

[LAUGHTER] THEY DECIDED TO PULL OVER TO RECALCULATE.

AND EVENTUALLY, WE DID GET OUT OF BOSTON.

ABOUT AN HOUR LATER THAN PLAN SO WE ARRIVED IN CHELSEA ABOUT 10:30 AT NIGHT.

AND AS WE WERE GETTING CLOSE TO THE VILLAGE, I BEGAN TO THINK, THIS WAS ANTI-CLIMACTIC.

I'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET HOME FOR TEN MONTHS, AND HERE I WAS COMING HOME LATE AT NIGHT, AND NOBODY WAS GOING TO KNOW THAT I WAS GETTING HOME, AND NO ONE WAS GOING TO BE THERE TO GREET ME.

SO I ASKED MY BROTHER IF HE WOULD LAY ON THE HORN AS WE ENTERED THE VILLAGE.

IT'S ABOUT A MILE RIDE FROM THE END OF THE VILLAGE TO OUR HOUSE.

AND JUST ABOUT THE TIME THAT HE STARTED TOOTING ON THE HORN, I STARTED HEARING CAR HORNS TOOTING.

STARTED HEARING CAR HORNS THE WINDOWS OF THE VAN.

IT TURNED OUT THAT A FRIEND OF MINE MOMS HAD SPREAD THE WORD THAT I WAS COMING HOME.

AND A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE HAD GATHERED LINING THE ROAD IN THEIR CARS WAITING FOR MY ARRIVAL.

SO WHEN WE GOT TO OUR HOUSE, THEY SET ME UP IN MY WHEELCHAIR, AND THERE WAS A PARADE OF CARS GOING BY, AND TOOTING HORNS AND WAVING AND PEOPLE BROADCASTING OVER THEIR C.B.

RADIOS, AND WELCOMING ME HOME.

SOME OF THEM STOPPED AND WISHED ME WELL.

AND ABOUT MIDNIGHT, I FINALLY GOT IN THE HOUSE, AND I STILL HAVE A PICTURE OF MY BROTHER, WHEELING ME UP THE RAMP.

I HAD A GRIN FROM EAR-TO-EAR.

I WISH THAT EVERYONE COULD HAVE ONE DAY IN THEIR LIFE THAT THEY WERE AS HAPPY AS I WAS THAT DAY.

SEVERAL YEARS LATER I WAS CHATTING WITH A FRIEND, BRAD BARNEL, AND HE MENTIONED THAT HE'D BEEN WORKING IN FRED'S STORE THAT FRIDAY NIGHT THAT I CAME HOME.

HE NOTICED A LOT OF PEOPLE IN CARS GATHERING OUT ON THE STREET.

CARS GATHERING OUT ON THE THERE, SO HE ASKED SOMEBODY, WHAT'S UP?

AND THEY SAID, WILLY IS COMING HOME.

AND THAT NIGHT IN JULY THAT IG CAME HOME WAS 42 YEARS AGO, AND I AM HOME STILL.

THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] >> CAN YOU STILL CONJURE THAT FEELING, WILL, OF WHAT IT FELT LIKE?>> I GET CHOKED UP.

>> I GET CHOKED UP AND IT DIDN'T EVEN HAPPEN TO ME.

I LOVE THAT WHAT YOU SAY ABOUT THAT NIGHT IS THAT YOU WISH EVERYONE COULD HAVE A DAY WHERE THEY FEEL THAT HAPPY.

DO YOU THINK MOST PEOPLE DON'T?

>> I REALLY DON'T KNOW.

IT WAS A PRETTY SPECIAL MOMENT.

>> YOU KNOW, ANYONE DRIVING THROUGH CHELSEA TODAY ADMIRING ITS TWO VILLAGE GREENS AND THE BIG BRICK BUILDINGS AND THEY MIGHT LOOK AT THIS LANDSCAPE AND THINK THAT NOTHING HAS CHANGED INSIDE COMMUNITY.

NO DIFFERENT THAN MAYBE AS IT WAS WHEN YOU WERE GROWING UP.

HAS IT CHANGED?

>> YES, IT HAS CHANGED A LOT.

I MEAN, IT WAS MORE OF A FARMING TOWN WHEN I GREW UP.

MY DAD WAS BACK IN THE DAY OF MILK CANS.

THERE WAS A LOT OF LITTLE FARMS, A LOT OF PEOPLE ONLY MILKED SIX OR TEN COWS, AND WHEN THE TANKS CAME IN, THEY WERE GONE RADICALLY OVERNIGHT, SO EVEN WHEN I GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL, I THINK THAT THERE WERE SOMEWHERE AROUND 25 OPERATING FARMS.

AND THERE IS FOUR NOW.

AND THE GRANITE COYS WAS A BIG EMPLOYER WHEN I WAS A BOY.

AND HARDLY ANYONE WORKS AT THE GRANITE QUARRIES.

I AM SURE 20, 30 MEN MUST HAVE GONE TO WORK THERE, SO IT HAS CHANGED IN THAT WAY A LOT.

>> HOW DOES THAT CHANGE THE WAY THAT THE COMMUNITY FEELS?

>> I THINK IT'S NOT A LARGE CHANGE, BUT PEOPLE DRIVE FARTHER AWAY TO WORK NOW.

BARRIE WAS -- IT WAS 20 MINUTES TO THE QUARRIES, AND NOW THEY DRIVE AN HOUR SO WHEN THEY CAME HOME BEFORE THEY MIGHT BE A LITTLE MORE READY TO GET RIGHT INVOLVED IN SOMETHING GOING ON.

NOW THEY DRIVE AN HOUR, HOUR AND A HALF TO GET BACK HOME, SOME OF THEM.

A HALF TO GET BACK HOME, SOME OF WORK CLOSER BY, BUT I THINK THE FARTHER YOU DRIVE AWAY, THE LESS YOU ARE GOING TO BE INVOLVED IN THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON AT HOME.

THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON AT BECAUSE YOGET HOME.ED WHEN YOU >> DO YOU THINK THAT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WOULD COME OUT FOR SOMEONE COMING HOME TODAY?

>> I HOPE SO.

I DON'T KNOW, BUT I HOPE SO.

>> IT SOUNDS LIKE YOUR STORE IS DOING PRETTY WELL.

>> IT IS NOW.

YES.

>> IT WASN'T FOR A WHILE?

>> IT STRUGGLED FOR A LONG TIME.

IT DID VERY WELL -- IT DID OKAY FOR THE FIRST 15 YEARS OR SO THAT I OWNED IT.

AND THEN THE STATE MADE SOME CHANGES AND SOME TAX LAWS, AND THEY MADE IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR A LOT OF SMALL STORES TO STAY IN BUSINESS.I AM FLOURISHING NOW BECAUSE SEVERAL OTHERS DIDN'T STAY IN BUSINESS, AND THAT IS OPEN -- THAT HAS OPENED THE DOOR.

THAT'S WHY I AM A GROCERY STORE NOW.

IT IS BECAUSE OF THE CHANGES THAT HAPPENED.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK COULD OR SHOULD BE DONE OR SHOULD ANYTHING BE DONE TO ENSURE THAT SMALL STORES, WHETHER THEY ARE GENERAL STORES THAT ONLY HAVE A FEW THINGS OR STORES WHERE YOU CAN BUY YOUR GROCERIES IN A SMALL COMMUNITY STAY VIBRANT.

IS IT IMPORTANT ENOUGH THAT SMALL COMMUNITY STAY VIBRANT.

KEEP THESE FIXTURES IN THEIR COMMUNITIES?>> I AM NOT A BIG FAN OF GOVERNMENT INVOLVEMENT.

I THINK PEOPLE NEED TO REALLY KEEP IT IN MIND THAT WHEN THEY WANT SOMETHING IN FIVE MINUTES, THE RUN TO THE STORE TO GET IT IS NICE BUT THAT MEANS THAT THEY ALSO NEED TO GO OTHER TIMES OR THE STORE WON'T BE THERE WHEN THEY WANT IT.

THEY NEED TO COMMIT JUST LIKE MANY OTHER THINGS, THEY NEED TO COMMIT LOCAL IF THEY WANT THE LOCAL TO BE THERE WHEN THEY WANT IT.

LOCAL TO BE THERE WHEN THEY WANT DRIVING TO WORK AND YOU HAVE A BIG BOX STORE THERE, AND YOU ARE GETTING HOME LATE AND THE HOURS MAY NOT BE IN LINE WITH WHAT YOUR STORE CAN PROVIDE.

>> YES, IT'S A SACRIFICE THAT THEY HAVE TO MAKE IT THEY WANT THE STORE TO BE THERE WHEN THEY WANT IT, THEY HAVE TO SACRIFICE SOME OTHER TIMES, TOO.

>> ARE YOU AN EXTROVERT?

>> NO.

>> HOW DO YOU RUN A STORE AND BE SUCH A PART OF YOUR COMMUNITY FOR SO LONG?

I WOULD BE EXHAUSTED EVERY NIGHT IF I HAD TO INTERACT WITH SO MANY PEOPLE IN MY TOWN AND BE SUCH A VISIBLE AND WELL-KNOWN PART OF MY COMMUNITY.

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL I AM VERY COMFORTABLE WHERE I AM.

I KNOW MOST EVERYONE VERY WELL.

I JUST LOVE CHATTING WITH PEOPLE.

AS THEY WILL TELL YOU, I CHAT WAY TOO MUCH.

I LOVE STORIES.

MY DAD WAS A STORY-TELLER, AND I COME BY IT NATURALLY.

>> YOU KNOW, A LOT OF COMMUNITIES ARE DEALING WITH SCHOOL CONSOLIDATION.

A COUPLE TOWNS IN ADDISON COUNTY ARE GOING TO BE THINKING ABOUT THAT THIS WEEK AND WHETHER TO CLOSE THEIR SMALL SCHOOLS.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT THIS AREA HAS GONE THROUGH, TOO, AND I UNDERSTAND A COUPLE YEARS AGO THAT CHELSEA CLOSED ITS HIGH SCHOOL, AND THE NINTH OR 12th GRADE STUDENTS ATTEND A NUMBER SCHOOL, AND THE NINTH OR 12th WHAT HAS THAT BEEN LIKE FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE?

>> MY OWN MIND IS THAT THE BIGGEST IMPACT WILL BE 10, 20 YEARS FROM NOW, BUT IN THE SHORT RUN, IT'S IMPACTED THE FOLKS WHO HAVE KIDS IN SCHOOL, MOST DIRECTLY, AS THEY NOW NEED TO GO 20 MILES AWAY TO WATCH A SOCCER GAME OR EVEN FARTHER, AND TO BE INVOLVED WITH THEIR KIDS IN SCHOOL.FOR THE OTHER LOCAL PEOPLE, THEY DON'T GET TO GO AND SEE THEM AS OFTEN, PARTICULARLY BASKETBALL.

THAT'S THE BIGGEST SPORT IN THE WINTERTIME.WHEN I WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL, AS A FRESHMEN, I THINK THAT OUR TEAM HAD LOST OVER A TWO-YEAR SPAN 30 SOMETHING GAMES IN A ROW.

>> IN A ROW?

[LAUGHTER] >> WHEN YOU WENT TO A BASKETBALL GAME THE GYM WAS FULL.

THERE WERE 300, 400 PEOPLE THERE.IT DID NOT MATTER.

THEY WENT TO CHEER THE KIDS ON AND TO SEE EACH OTHER.

AND OVER TIME, THAT WILL BE LOST.

PEOPLE WON'T KNOW EACH OTHER BECAUSE THERE IS NOT A REASON TO COME TOGETHER TO SEE EACH OTHER.

JUST THE FIVE MINUTES OF SAYING HI, AND HOW ARE YOU DOING.

>> IS THERE ANYTHING YOU SEE IN YOUR COMMUNITY BUILDING THE CONNECTIONS?THERE IS A LOT THAT WE TALK ABOUT THAT'S TAKEN AWAY THE COMMUNITY OR THE CONNECTIONS, AND YET, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU ASK PEOPLE, ARE THEY HAPPY IN VERMONT, THERE ARE CHALLENGESBUT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE REALLY STILL COMMITTED TO WHERE THEY LIVE AND WHO THEY LIVE WITH AND MAKING VERMONT STRONG.

WHAT DO YOU SEE AS BUILDING THE COMMUNITY AROUND HERE?

>> THERE IS A GROUP THAT RUN THE FARMERS MARKET IN THE SUMMER EVERY FRIDAY, THAT'S, THAT HAS BECOME EXTREMELY POPULAR.

A LOT OF PEOPLE COME, AND THEY HAVE MUSIC SO PEOPLE DON'T COME JUST TO BUY SOME VEGETABLES, THEY COME FOR THE TWO OR THREE HOURS, AND THEY WILL STAY AND THAT HAS BEEN A GOOD SOURCE.

THERE IS A LOCAL ARTS COUNCIL THAT WORKED HARD TO HELP PROMOTE THINGS.

THAT WORKED HARD TO HELP PROMOTE IS PEOPLE HAVING TO WORK NOW TO MAKE IT STAY A COMMUNITY, WHERE IN THE PAST IT WAS A NATURAL THING, AND THAT'S WHAT I AM AFRAID IS OVER TIME, THE EFFORT IT TAKES TO KEEP IT GOING MAY FAIL.

IT TAKES TO KEEP IT GOING MAY >> DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR MORGAN?

>> DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR TONIGHT AND FIGURING OUT HOW TO MAKE A LIFE WORK IN THIS COMMUNITY WORKING MANY JOBS?

AND FEELING SO CONNECTED AND THE POWER OF BEING IN YOUR HOME?

>> MY ADVICE TO MOST ANYONE, ESPECIALLY WESPECIALLY TO GET I, YOUNG HELP AND GET INVOLVED.

THAT'S THE WAY THAT YOU MEET YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS, AND IT'S THE WAY TO MAKE CONTACTS AND TO MAKE YOU FEEL LIKE IT'S YOUR HOME.

IS TO GET INVOLVED.

>> WILL GILMAN, IT HAS BEEN A PLEASURE TO HEAR FROM YOU TONIGHT.

YOUR STORY GAVE EVERYBODY THE TINGLES, I THINK, AND A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE LIFE YOU HAVE HAD HERE AND WHAT YOU HAVE SEEN.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

[APPLAUSE] >> IT'S NO SECRET THAT VERMONTERS ARE PROUD OF OUR WORKING LANDSCAPE FROM THE EARLIEST VERMONTERS, THE NATIVE AMERICANS WHO SETTLED HERE AND THE PEOPLE WHO STILL TRACE THEIR LINEAGE BACK BEFORE COLONIAL SETTLEMENTS CHANGED THE LANDSCAPE, THROUGH TO EUROPEAN COLONISTS WHO FOUND THE LAND ROCKY AND DIFFICULT, BUT WORTH THE EFFORT OR AT LEAST IMPOSSIBLE TO EXTRICATE THEMSELVES FROM ONCE THEY STARTED.

OR MAYBE, YOU KNOW, JUST THIS TENSION THAT WE STILL FEEL TODAY BETWEEN DEVELOPMENT AND THE NATURAL LANDSCAPE AND THIS UNEASY BALANCE.

THROUGH IT ALL THE LAND HAS BEEN ONE OF THE WAYS THAT VERMONTERS STAY CONNECTED TO WHERE WE ARE AND WHO WE ARE AND HOW WE DIFFERENTIATE OURSELVES FROM OTHER PLACES.

OUR NEXT GUEST FEELS THAT CONNECTION TO THE LAND AND THE LANDSCAPE DEEPLY.

HE ALSO EXPERIENCES THE DIFFICULTIES OF TRYING TO WORK THE LAND AND MAKE A LIVING.

FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS, RAY HULL HAS BEEN WORKING TO BRING HIS OWN PIECE OF LAND BACK TO LIFE.WHETHER OR NOT HE'LL SUCCEED REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE RAY HULL TO THE STAGE.

[APPLAUSE] >> GOOD EVENING.

I WAS BORN HERE IN RANDOLPH.

I GREW UP IN REDDING, VERMONT ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE COOLIDGE STATE FOREST WHERE MOUNTAINS AND HILLSIDE FARMS WERE PART OF THE LANDSCAPE, AND THAT'S JUST THE WAY I LIKED IT AS A KID.

WHEN I WAS 12, I WENT TO WORK FOR OUR ALTHOUGHLY DAIRY FARM IY FARM AND REALIZED I LIKE THAT, TOO.

MILKING COWS AND FARMING.

I WAS 16 WHEN MY FAMILY MOVED TO MICHIGAN.

I WAS 16 WHEN MY FAMILY MOVED TO THE FIRST THING THAT I NOTICED WAS THERE WERE NO MOUNTAINS, AND IT WAS FLAT LAND.

IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS HARD FOR ME TO GET USED TO.

I GUESS THAT YOU CAN TAKE THE BOY OUT OF THE MOUNTAINS BUT NOT THE MOUNTAINS OUT OF THE BOY.

AFTER THAT, I DECIDED IN 2015 TO RETURN TO VERMONT IN HOPES OF RESURRECTING A HILLSIDE FARM, THAT'S MY AUNT'S, HERE IN BRAINTREE WHERE I LIVE.

I KIND OF CONSIDER PEOPLE LIKE ME WHO HAVE GROWN UP HERE, MOVED AWAY AND THEN RETURNED, WE ARE LIKE SALMON.

FROM THE BIG WATERS WE HEAD UP TO THE RIVERS FROM WHERE WE FIRST CAME.

WHILE I WAS IN MICHIGAN, I FINISHED HIGH SCHOOL.

WENT OFF TO COLLEGE, STARTED OUT IN ENGINEERING.

I DECIDED TO SHIFT GEARS INTO DAIRY SCIENCE.

I EVENTUALLY GRADUATED FROM MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY.

AFTER COLLEGE I WENT TO WORK FOR A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT DAIRY FARMS AS A HERDSMAN.

UNTIL EVENTUALLY, I BOUGHT MY OWN FARM.

I WAS MARRIED AT THE TIME, AND MY DAUGHTER WAS TWO.

MY SON WAS ON HIS WAY BUT NOT BORN AS OF THEN.

I CAME TO THE REALIZATION THAT MAYBE WORKING SEVEN DAYS A WEEK WAS JUST NOT GOING TO GET IT ANY MORE.SO I DECIDED TO SELL THE FARM.

THAT WAS A DIFFICULT DECISIN FOR ME AT THAT TIME.

AFTER THAT, I GOT INTO THE MACHINE TOOL INDUSTRY.

I WENT TO WORK FOR MY DAD.

EVENTUALLY, MY DAD AND I, WE OPENED UP OUR OWN MACHINE TOOL COMPANY AND DID THERE FOR SEVERAL YEARS UNTIL WE STARTED SEEING THE DECLINING TREND IN OUR SEGMENT OF THAT INDUSTRY.

MY TAD WAS GETTING UP THERE IN YEARS, AND DECIDED THAT MAYBE WE OUGHT TO GET OUT OF IT, SO WE DID.

A COUPLE DAYS AFTER THAT DECISION WAS MADE, HE CAME UP TO ME AND HE ASKED ME, WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU MIGHT DO AFTER THIS?

AND I SAID, WELL, I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE BACK TO VERMONT.

MAYBE RESURRECT MY AUNT'S FARM.

SO I LOOKED RIGHT AT HIM, AND I ASKED HIM, DO YOU THINK THAT I AM CRAZY?

HE SAID NO.

NOT AT ALL.

MY FRIENDS, ON THE OTHER HAND, THEY HAD A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT TAKE ON THIS WHOLE MOVING TO VERMONT THING.

SOME OF THE COM COMMENTS, DON'TY GET A LOT OF SNOW OUT THERE?

OR RAY, HAVE YOU BUMPED YOUR HEAD?

AND I THINK THAT MY FAVORITE ONE WAS, I THINK THAT I SHOULD TAKE YOU TO THERAPY IMMEDIATELY.

[LAUGHTER] HERE I AM.

TRYING TO DECIDE WHETHER I SHOULD MOVE BACK TO VERMONT, ESPECIALLY AT THIS STAGE OF MY LIFE.SO HERE I AM, TRYING TO RESURRECT THE HILLSIDE FARM WITH THE HOPES OF SELLING MORE HAY, CATTLE AND LUMBER PRODUCTS, EVENTUALLY.I WANTED TO PROVE MYSELF RIGHT RATHER THAN WRONG, AND THE SIMPLE FACT THAT DOES A RURAL FARM HERE IN VERMONT BECOME PART OF A LARGER AGRICULTURAL OPERATION?OR DOES A RURAL FARM BECOME ANOTHER COUNTRY SIDE ESTATE?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

THESE MOUNTAINS ARE THE SAME, THE PEAKS AND THE VALLEYS ARE THE SAME AS WHEN I WAS A KID.

THEY SPEAK TO ME IN A WAY.

SO I THINK THAT IT'S SAFE TO SAY FOR ME, IS THE BOY WHO LEFT THESE BEAUTIFUL, RUGGED, SOMETIMES TREACHEROUS MOUNTAINS HAS HAD THE MOUNTAINS AWAKENED IN A MAN WHO HAS RETURNED TO A HILLSIDE FARM.

THANK YOU.

HI[APPLAUSE]M.

>> YOU, ACTUALLY, EXPERIENCED WHAT IT'S REALLY LIKE TO BE A FLAT-LANDER.>> THAT'S RIGHT.

WHAT IT'S REALLY LIKE TO BE A PEOPLE HERE, BUT YOU LIVED WHERE THE LAND WAS FLAT, A AND IT DIDT SIT RIGHT WITH YOU SO YOU HAD TO COME BACK.

DID YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW HARD IT WOULD BE WHEN YOU DECIDED TO REVIVE YOUR AUNT'S FARM?

>> OH, YES, I KNEW BEFORE I MOVED HERE IT WOULD BE HARD TRYING TO SCRATCH OUT A LIVING, ESPECIALLY A LIVING OFF THE LAND HERE IN RURAL VERMONT.

I KNEW THAT UP FRONT.

I HAD, I STILL HAVE FAMILY AND RELATIVES HERE.

ALWAYS BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THEM.

ALWAYS BI KNEW THAT.CT WITH >> SO YOU ARE A LITTLE CRAZY?

>> I GUESS SO, YEAH.

>> HAVE YOU EVER FRIENDS COME >> I GAROUND?, YEAH.

>> YES.

>> I GAROUND?, YEAH.

COUPLE COME OUT AND VISIT.

>> WHAT IS THE HARDEST THING ABOUT TRYING TO RETURN THE LAND TO AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY?

THE ACTUAL PHYSICAL HARDEST THING?

>> WELL, THE FIRST THING IS LIKE, YOU KNOW, THIS FARM REALLY HASN'T BEEN FARMED IN 70 OR SO YEARS, SO EVERYTHING HAS BEEN OUT.THE FIRST THING IN MY MIND O SEED THE SOIL.

I WENT AND AERATED EVERYTHING, AND I BOUGHT AN OLD CHOPPER AND TOOK WHAT WAS THERE AS THE MATERIAL AND CHOPPED IT RIGHT BACK ON OS ORGANIC MATTER SO THAT TOOK TWO YEARS JUST TO DO THAT, BUT NOW THE HAY FIELDS ARE LOOKING PRETTY GOOD, AND I'VE BEEN FORTUNATE THAT I HAVE HAD NEIGHBORS TO LET ME USE THEIR FIELDS AND SO THAT'S BEEN HELPFUL.

>> SO YOU ARE FARMING HAY RIGHT NOW?

>> YES.

>> PRODUCING HAY.

WHAT ELSE DO YOU WANT TO PRODUCE?>> WITH THE HOPES OF BEEF CATTLE AND LUMBER PRODUCTS EVENTUALLY, YEP.I HAD A SAW MILL AND WANT TO GET THAT ONLINE.

>> HOW LONG?

WHAT'S YOUR -- IS THAT LIKE A FIVE-YEAR PLAN, TEN-YEAR?

>> IT WAS A THREE-YEAR PLAN BEFORE I MOVED OUT HERE, AND I AM PROBABLY IN A YEAR AND A HALF.

YEAH, FROM MY RELATIVES, YOU GOT THAT SAW MILL GOING YET?

>> I AM CURIOUS IF YOU HAVE A VISION YOU COULD PAINT FOR US OF WHAT YOU THINK YOUR FARM -- YOU HOPE YOUR FARM WILL LOOK LIKE IN 20 YEARS?

IF SOMEBODY CAME BY 20 YEARS FROM NOW, WHAT WOULD THEY SEE?

>> I WOULD HOPE TO SEE THAT THEY WOULD SEE SOME NEW, OLD FASHIONED BARNS AND SOMETHING LIKE THE FARM WAS TAKEN CARE OF SO IT COULD BE PASSED ONTO THE NEXT GENERATION.

>> DO YOU HAVE ANYBODY IN MIND FOR THAT?

>> SORT OF, BUT THAT DEPENDS ON MY KIDS.

AND THAT MAY NOT BE, BUT IT DOES NOT MATTER.

MY INTENT WAS TO MAKE IT SO THAT IT COULD BE A PRODUCTIVE TYPE SUSTAINABILITY FARM.

WITH THAT MUCH LAND.

>> THAT'S A PROBLEM, THOUGH, ISN'T IT, FIGURING OUT WHAT HAPPENS TO THE FARM WHEN YOU ARE TOO OLD TO FARM IT AND WHO GETS IT AND IS IT SOMETHING YOUR KIDS WILL WANT?

>> YEAH.

>> AND HOW DO YOU HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS?

>>>> YOU DON'T, YOU KNOW.OSE MY KIDS ARE -- WELL, YOU DO, BUT LIKE I WAS TALKING TO MY DAUGHTER, I WAS GOING TO BE ON THIS, AND SHE GOES YOU ARE A MOUNTAIN MAN AGAIN.

[LAUGHTER] SO I GO, WELL, I AM TRYING TO DO THIS SO THAT MAYBE YOU GUYS MIGHT WANT TO TAKE THIS OVER, AND SHE SAID, WELL, DON'T THINK ABOUT ME.

>> HOW OLD IS SHE?

>> SHE'S 27.

SO YOU KNOW, AS SHE GETS OLDER, POSSIBLY, AND MAYBE NOT, YOU KNOW.

POSSIBLY, AND MAYBE NOT, YOU >> YOU SAID YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THIS PATCH OF LAND THAT MEANS SOMETHING TO YOU BECOME JUST A BUNCH OF COOKIE CUTTER HOMES.WHY NOT?

WE KNOW HOUSING IS AN ISSUE.

>> YEAH.

>> MORE PEOPLE IN VERMONT IS SOMETHING THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO SEE.

>> THAT'S TRUE.

BUT, HERE'S ONE OF THE ISSUES, VERMONT HAS ONLY SO MUCH OPEN LAND.I THINK THAT YOU HAVE TO USE THAT LAND WISELY.

I SAW THIS IN MICHIGAN WHERE I LIVED IN A SPAN OF 15, 20 YEARS THAT WERE ALL CORNFIELDS, WITHIN 20 YEARS, WERE STRIP MALLS ALONG THE HIGHWAY.

>> WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT VERMONT'S UNEASY BALANCE WITH ITS LAND USE PLANNING AND IT'S WORKING LANDSCAPE, AND THERE ARE A LOT OF WAYS THAT TENSION PLAYS OUT, WHETHER IT'S THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT RULES OR THROUGH QUESTIONS OF SOMETIMES NEW NEIGHBORS COMING IN, NOT REALLY WANTING TO BE NEAR THE FARM.

>> THAT'S TRUE.

>> AND DO YOU THINK THAT WE HAVE >> THAT'S TRUE.

BY AND LARGE?

>> I THINK SO.

I MEAN, I'VE BEEN FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE FRIENDS IN OTHER STATES OTHER THAN MICHIGAN, TOO, THAT FARMED.

AND YEAH, THIS STATE HAS A FAIRLY DECENT BALANCE THAT WAY, YEAH.>> YOU SAID THAT YOU NOTICE IT, TOO, NOT EVERYBODY -- EVERYBODY WANTS TO SEE THE FARM OR WANTS TO HAVE THE PASTORAL LANDSCAPE BUT NOT EVERYBODY WANTS TO LIVE RIGHT NEXT TO IT?

>> THAT'S VERY TRUE.

I EXPERIENCED THAT IN MICHIGAN.

YEAH.

>> WHAT ARE THOSE INTERACTIONS LIKE?

>> DON'T SPREAD MANURE ON A SUNDAY WHEN THEIR DAUGHTER IS HAVING A GRADUATION PARTY.

>> JUST FOR AN EXAMPLE.

>> AND WE WERE FAR AWAY, SO I DIDN'T SPREAD MANURE THAT DAY.

>> YOU DIDN'T?

SO YOU WERE A GOOD NEIGHBOR.

>> RIGHT.

SO YOU WERE A GOOD NEIGHBOR.

PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU WITH US TONIGHT, AND I REALLY -- I AM PULLING FOR YOUR FARM.

I HOPE THAT I CAN BUY SOME BEEF FROM YOU IN A COUPLE OF YEARS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEINGPART OF IT.

RAY HULL.

[APPLAUSE] >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

SO OUR NEXT GUEST, THE DECISION ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT TO LIVE HERE, AND TO STAY HERE INVOLVES NOT JUST A JOB, NOT JUST A WHAT KIND OF PLACE TO RAISE A CHILD IN.

WHAT VALUES TO INSTILL IN YOUR KID, BUT ALSO HOW TO KEEP THEM SAFE.

KID, BUT ALSO HOW TO KEEP THEM SAFE.I THINK WE ALL KNOW THAT, BUT WHEN YOU ARE A FAMILY OF COLOR, THAT CALCULATION MAY FEEL DIFFERENT HERE IN A STATE WHERE MORE THAN 90% OF THE POPULATION IDENTIFIES AS WHITE.

AMBER WYLIE THINKS THAT CALCULATION AND WHY WHEN THE PROS AND THE CONS ARE CONSIDERED, THE BALANCE IS STILL IN VERMONT'S FAVOR.

AMBER WYLIE, COME ON OUT TO THE STAGE.

[APPLAUSE] >> MY NAME IS AMBER.

MY FAMILY MOVED TO VERMONT IN 1973 WHEN I WAS ONE.

WE SETTLED IN SHARON IN AN OLD, UNINSULATED FARMHOUSE ON THE EDGE OF THE WHITE RIVER.

I GREW UP WITH MEMORIES OF BARN-RAISINGS AND DANCES AND BARTERING SESSIONS WHERE WE TRADED THE BOUNTY OF OUR GARDEN FOR THE BOUNTIES OF OTHER'S WORK.

FOR THE BOUNTIES OF OTHER'S TO WHOM COMMUNITY WAS IMPORTANT.

WE HELPED EACH OTHER WHEN THE WINTER WA HARSH.

LIFE WAS GOVERNED BY THE RHYTHM OF THE SEASONS FROM THE BOOM CRACKING BELLOW OF THE RIVER ICE AS IT WENT OUT IN THE SPRING, AND TO THE RIVER PARTIES AND TUBING AND SQUASHING THE POTATO BUGS IN THE SUMMER.

WATCHING THE COLORS SPREAD LIKE SLOW FIREWORKS IN THE AUTUMN, AND HUNKERING DOWN IN THE WINTER KNOWING THAT WE HAD A LONG TIME TO ENDURE OF COLD AND DARK AND SNOW.AND THROUGH ALL OF THE SEASONS WAS THE WOOD.

MY FATHER AND I SPLIT, STACKED TO DRY, AND BROUGHT INTO THE BASEMENT, STACKED AGAIN, AND BURNED 13 CORD OF WOOD, EACH YEAR.

[LAUGHTER]I HAVE GOT BROAD SHOULDERS.

BUT THERE IS ANOTHER SIDE TO VERMONT.

MY FATHER'S EUROPEAN AMERICAN IS, MOSTLY GERMAN, IRISH, AND ENGLISH, AND MY MOTHER'S ANCESTORS ARE AFRICAN, CARIBBEAN, SEMINOLE AND IRISH.

LIFE IN RURAL VERMONT AS A MINORITY IS ISOLATING, AND SOMETIMES SCARY.

THERE WERE PLACES MY FAMILY COULD NOT GO.

THERE WERE PLACES MY FAMILY AND I HAVE MEMORIES OF MY EUROPEAN AMERICAN CLASSMATES SAYING THINGS LIKE, YEAH, YOU CAN COME TO THE PARTY IF YOU ARE WILLING TO BE SNUCK IN THE BACK BECAUSE MY DADDY HATES YOU, N WORDS.I REMEMBER PEOPLE TRYING TO TELL ME THAT IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE FOR MY MOTHER TO BE BLACK BECAUSE EVERYBODY KNEW THAT BLACK PEOPLE AND WHITE PEOPLE CANNOT, ACTUALLY, CREATE LIVING OFFSPRING.

I NEVER LEARNED HOW TO RESPOND TO THE TAUNTS OF THE EUROPEAN AMERICANS WHO TOLD ME, WHY DON'T YOU PEOPLE JUST GO BACK WHERE YOU CAME FROM!

HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT?

HOW DOES A CHILD RESPOND TO THAT?

WHAT I WISH THAT I COULD HAVE SAID WAS, MY ANCESTORS HAVE BEEN HERE FOR OVER 12,000 YEARS.

I AM WHERE I COME FROM.

HOW ABOUT YOU?

[APPLAUSE] BUT I COULDN'T SAY THAT.

I WAS TOO AFRAID OF WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF I SPOKE THE TRUTH.

I WAS AFRAID OF WHAT WOULD HAPPEN NEXT.

SO I LEFT VERMONT.

I SAID I WAS NEVER COMING BACK.

I WAS NEVER GOING TO SPLIT ANOTHER PIECE OF WOOD.

I WAS NEVER GOING TO SHOVEL ANY MORE SNOW.

I WAS NEVER GOING TO LIVE SOMEWHERE WHERE I WAS MADE TO FEEL LIKE A FREAK JUST BECAUSE I EXISTED.I WANTED EASE.

I WANTED CONVENIENCE.

I WENT TO SKIDMORE COLLEGE IN UPSTATE NEW YORK, I MARRIED MY BEST FRIEND FROM HIGH SCHOOL.

WE MOVED TO HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA, OXFORD, ENGLAND, NEW YORK CITY, AND THE COMBINATION OF UNBELIEVABLE COINCIDENCES, LUCK, AND FAMILY NEED THAT BROUGHT ME BACK TO VERMONT 20 YEARS AFTER I HAD LEFT, ASTONISHING, AND I AM WELL AND TRULY BCK.

I WORK IN THE SCHOOL WHERE MY FATHER WAS A TUTOR, A MILE AND A HALF FROM THE HOUSE THAT I GREW UP WHERE MY PARENTS STILL LIVE.

I LIVE IN THE TOWN WHERE MY HUSBAND GREW UP, WHERE HIS PARENTS STILL LIVE.

I TELL THE STUDENTS AT MY SCHOOL, NEVER SAY NEVER.

LIFE IN RURAL VERMONT IS NO JEC, TH--IT IS NO JOKE.

IT IS STILL HERE, A LITTLE LESS BUT STILL HERE.

THE WINTERS CAN KILL YOU.

[LAUGHTER] THE GROCERY STORE IS A 30-MINUTE DRIVE AWAY AT LEAST.

MY PARENTS FREQUENT CHEMO APPOINTMENTS ARE 45 MINUTES A AWAY, NOTHING IS EASY.

NOTHING IS CONVENIENT.

FINDING A JOB IS HARD.

THE PAY CUT I TOOK TO MOVE HERE IS PAINFUL TO THINK ABOUT.

MY HUSBAND WORKS IN NEW JERSEY.

IT'S A HUSTLE.

BUT WE MAKE IT WORK, AND THE REASON WE MAKE IT WORK IS BECAUSE RISING ABOVE ALL OF THE DIFFICULTIES LIKE THE MOUNTAINS THAT GAVE THIS STATE ITS NAME, IS THE BEAUTY OF THIS PLACE.

I DON'T HAVE TO PAY A MEMBERSHIP FEE.I CAN LOOK OUT MY WINDOW.

WALK OUT MY DOOR.

DRIVE TO WORK IS BREATH-TAKING IN ANY SEASON.

AND COURSING THROUGH EVERYTHING, LIKE THE RIVERS AND OUR VALLEYS, ARE THE CONNECTIONS.

CONNECTIONS TO THE LAND.

I WATCH MY FOOD BEING GROWN.

CONNECTIONS TO MUSIC.

LIVING ROOM CONCERTS, FREE CONCERTS ON THE TOWN GREEN.

CONNECTIONS TO ART, IN OUR LIBRARIES, POST OFFICES, CONNECTIONS TO PEOPLE.

I CAN'T GO ANYWHERE WITHOUT RUNNING INTO SOMEONE THAT I KNOW.

OR THEIR MOTHER OR THEIR UNCLE OR THEIR KIDS, I GET TO KNOW THEM AS MULTI-DIMENSIONAL.

NOTHING IS EASY.

NOTHING IS CONVENIENT.

BUT LIFE IS REAL.

LIFE IS GOOD HERE.

AND YES, I DO SPLIT WOOD AGAIN.

AND I LOVE TO SHOVEL.

[LAUGHTER]THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] AMBER YOU HAVE A SON, AND DOES YOUR SON LIKE TO SHOVEL SNOW AND CHOP WOOD?

>> CHOP WOOD, DEFINITELY NOT, SHOVELING SNOW, IT DEPENDS.

>> YOU SAID THERE WERE PLACES YOU COULD NOT GO WHEN YOU WERE A KID, THE FAIR WAS OFF LIMITS.

>> YES.

>> COULD YOU GO NOW?

>> I WOULD GO WITH MY HUSBAND.

HE IS EUROPEAN AMERICAN.

HE IS 6'8".

AND I FEEL SAFE.

I HAVE TALKED WITH THE ORGANIZERS OF THE FAIR ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I HAVE SEEN THERE, AND I KNOW THAT THEY TAKE IT VERY SERIOUSLY.

>> BUT YOU WOULD NOT GO BY YOURSELF?>> I AM HESITANT.

AND SOME OF THAT IS MY MEMORIES.

IT MIGHT BE PERFECTLY SAFE, BUT MY MEMORIES ARE SO STRONG.

>> YOU SAY THE RACISM IS STILL HERE, AND CLEARLY THAT'S TRUE.

WHERE NOW DO YOU EXPERIENCE IT?

>> CONFEDERATE FLAGS, ALL OVER THE PLACE.

PEOPLE WHO SAY TO ME, WHAT ARE E YOU, OR IF I STOP TO TAKE A PHOTOGRAPH AND SOMEONE SAYS, WHERE ARE YOU FROM?

I AM FROM STRATFORD.

NO?

WHERE ARE YOU FROM?

I GREW UP IN SHARON.

YOU DON'T LOOK LIKE YOU GREW UP IN SHARON.

IT'S EVERYWHERE.

YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN SOMEONE IS GOING TO SAY SOMETHING.

AND THOSE ARE JUST MY EXPERIENCES.

THE EXPERIENCES OF OTHER MINORITIES ARE FAR MORE VIOLENT SOMETIMES.

YEAH, IT'S STILL HERE.

>> AND YET YOU LOOK AT THAT LEDGER, AND YOU KNOW, IT'S STILL, IN SOME WAYS, AT LEAST, COMES OUT IN VERMONT'S FAVOR, YOU KNOW, YOU TALK ELOQUENTLY ABOUT WHAT YOU LOVE ABOUT VERMONT.

SPACE.

MUSIC.

SPACE.

THE COLD, AND EVEN CHOPPING WOOD.DOES IT MAKE IT ALL WORTH IT?

>> I THINK SO.

I THINK THAT THAT'S WHY I AM HERE.IT DOES NOT NEGATE THE DIFFICULTIES.THERE IS A COMMUNITY HERE, AND THERE IS A WAY TO ACCESS THAT COMMUNITY, AND THERE IS A WAY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE HERE THAT ISN'T ALWAYS POSSIBLE OTHER PLACES.

>> WHY DO YOU THINK IT'S NOT POSSIBLE OTHER PLACES?

OR MORE POSSIBLE HERE?

>> PART OF IT IS THE SIZE.

I THINK PART OF IT IS REALLY ABOUT GETTING TO KNOW PEOPLE.

IF I, WHEN I LIVED IN THE NEW YORK CITY AREA, I SAW MY COLLEAGUES AT WORK.

I SAW CHURCH FRIENDS AT CHURCH.

I SAW NEIGHBORS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND I DIDN'T GET TO SEE ALL OF THE DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF THOSE SAME PEOPLE.

IN HERE ALL THOSE PEOPLE ARE ALL OVER.I SEE THEM AT WORK.

I SEE THEM AT A SWIMMING HOLE.

I SEE THEM Q. THEIR KIDS, I SEE THEM TAKING CARE OF THEIR PARENTS.THEY ARE -- WE ALL KNOW EACH OTHER ON A MUCH DEEPER LEVEL.

WHEN YOU HAVE THOSE RELATIONSHIPS AND CONNECTIONS, THAT'S WHERE TRANSFORMATION, CHANGE, CAN HAPPEN, THAT'S WHERE YOU CAN REALLY HELP EACH OTHER.

>> YOU MENTIONED THE ART AND MUSIC YOU EXPERIENCE HERE, AND YOU KNOW, YOU ALSO SAID YOU LIVED IN NEW YORK AND YOU LIVED OTHER PLACES, AND WHERE THERE ARE WORLD CLASS MUSICIANS, AND THERE ARE WORLD CLASS GALLERIES, AND YOU CAN SEE SOMETHING ANY NIGHT OF THE WEEK, AND WHAT IS IT ABOUT THE ART AND THE MUSIC HERE THAT FILLS YOU SO MUCH.

>> YOU CAN ACCESS IT.

SO I AM A PHOTOGRAPHER.

I DON'T HAVE TO HAVE EXHIBITED AT A FANCY MUSEUM.

I CAN EXHIBIT AT MY POST OFFICE.

I CAN ACCESS THAT LEVEL OF ARTISTIC EXPRESSION, AND I CAN SEE IT WITH PEOPLE THAT I KNOW.

IT'S, AGAIN, IT'S THAT MULTI-DIMENSIONITY, SO IT'S NOT AS REMOVED AS IT CAN BE IN BIGGER PLACES.

I CAN GET ON STAGE AND SING WITH FRIENDS.I DON'T HAVE TO BE A BROADWAY STAR.

>> GOOD, BECAUSE I WAS GOING TO SAY, ARE YOU READY?

>> NO.

[LAUGHTER] >> WHEN YOU WERE YOUNGER YOU [LAUGHTER] BACK.

>> NEVER.

AND OBVIOUSLY, YOU DID.

ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WE ASKED PEOPLE IN OUR RURAL LIFE SURVEY WAS, WOULD THEY ADVISE AN 18-YEAR-OLD TODAY TO STAY IN THE STATE OR LEAVE.

AND FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, THAT QUESTION IS REALLY NUANCED IN SOME WAYS THAT YOU CANNOT GET INTO IN A SURVEY BECAUSE YOU MIGHT LIVE ANYWHERE AND TELL AN 18-YEAR-OLD GO AWAY FOR A WHILE, YOU NEED IT AND COME BACK, BUT I AM CURIOUS YOU KNOW, HOW YOU WOULD TALK TO YOUR SON?

DO YOU HOPE HE STAYS HERE?

DO YOU WANT HIM TO KEEP THESE ROOTS?

HOW WOULD YOU ADVISE HIM ON THAT QUESTION?

H>> WELL, ONE THING THAT WE DOAT TELL HIM ALREADY IS LEAVE THE COUNTRY.IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY BECAUSE, IF YOU CAN, IF YOU ARE LUCKY ENOUGH.

WE WERE VERY LUCKY.

BECAUSE THAT'S WHEN YOU GET TO LOOK AT YOUR ASSUMPTIONS AND YOUR BELIEFS FROM A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE.

AND THEN YOU CAN REASSEMBLE YOUR ASSUMPTIONS AND BELIEFS IN A DELIBERATE WAY, SO I THINK THAT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO SEE OTHER WAYS OF BEING.

I ALSO THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT, WE ARE HERE BY CHOICE NOW, WHICH IS VERY DIFFERENT THAN FEELING TRAPPED, WHICH MEANS I BRING A DIFFERENT ENERGY TO BEING HERE, AND I TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THINGS IN A DIFFERENT WAY BECAUSE I AM CHOOSING TO BE HERE NOW.

I THINK WHETHER PEOPLE STAY OR GO IS A VERY INDIVIDUAL THING.

SOME PEOPLE NEED TO LEAVE IN ORDER TO APPRECIATE WHAT THEY HAVE.

SOME PEOPLE ALREADY KNOW WHAT THEY HAVE.

IT DEPENDS ON THE PERSON.

>> AMBER, HOW DO YOU USE YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES, YOUR SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND SENSE OF HOME, AND THE PLACES THAT YOU LIVED ELSEWHERE, AND WHAT YOU EXPERIENCED BEING A PERSON OF COLOR IN VERMONT, TO HELP GUIDE STUDENTS IN YOUR JOB AT SHARON ACADEMY?>> THERE ARE LOTS OF THINGS THAT I TRY TO DO.

I TRY TO BE A SAFE PLACE.

I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR SCHOOLS, ESPECIALLY, TO HAVE MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF MINORITIES ON THE STAFF SO THAT WHEN THE STUDENTS HAVE QUESTIONS OR ARE FEELING MARGINALIZED, THEY KNOW THAT THEY CAN TALK TO SOMEONE WHO UNDERSTANDS WHAT IT'S LIKE.

LIKEWISE, EUROPEAN AMERICAN STUDENTS ALSO NEED TO BE ABLE TO SEE PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS AND, AND EVERYTHING BECAUSE IF YOU ARE GOING TO BE A LEADER, AND IF YOU ARE GOING TO GO OUT THERE IN THE WORLD, THIS IS NOT WHAT THE WORLD LOOKS LIKE.

ITHE WORLD LOOKS VERY, VERY DIFFERENT, AND YOU NEED TO BE ITHEABLE TO ACCEPT THAT.ERY >> DO YOU THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR VERMONTERS TO IDENTIFY AS WHITE OR EUROPEAN AMERICAN?

YOU ARE VERY CONSCIOUSLY USING THAT TERM.

IS THAT BECAUSE THERE IS THIS OTHERRING OF OTHER PEOPLE AND A DEFAULT ABOUT BEING WHITE YOU OTHERRING OF OTHER PEOPLE AND A >> YES, AND IT'S BECAUSE I HAVE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH EUROPEAN AMERICANS WHO SEEM TO HAVE FORGOTTEN THAT THEY ARE IMMIGRANTS, THAT THEY MAY HAVE ONLY BEEN HERE FOR A COUPLE OF GENERATIONS.MAYBE THREE GENERATIONS.

WE ARE A COUNTRY OF IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES.

WE CANNOT FORGET THAT.

SO YES, I AM USING EUROPEAN AMERICAN VERY SPECIFICALLY, IF I AM AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND EUROPEAN AMERICAN, THEN EUROPEAN AMERICAN IS ANOTHER PART OF IT.

>> THE OLDER YOU GET, ARE YOU STILL AS ENAMORED OF THE COLD AS YOU WERE AS A CHILD?

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT YOU STILL REALLY LOVE ABOUT LIVING HERE?

THE NICE THING IS THAT I HAVE WARMER CLOTHES NOW.

[LAUGHTER] >> THAT HELPS.

>> IT DOES.

>> AMBER WYLIE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING A PART OF THIS EVENING AND SHARING YOUR STORIES.

EVENING[APPLAUSE]NG YOUR WE HAVE ONE LAST STORY-TELLER FOR YOU TONIGHT.

BILL MCGRATH HAS HAD A COUPLE OF OPPORTUNITIES TO LEAVE VERMONT, AND HE TOOK THE FIRST ONE WHEN HE WAS YOUNGER.

THAT LANDED HIM IN NEW YORK.

BUT, OBVIOUSLY, HE DID COME BACK.

BUT, OBVIOUSLY, HE DID COME TO MOVE THE MANUFACTURING COMPANY HE LEADS FROM HERE IN RANDOLPH TO ANOTHER STATE.

THE DECISION ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT TO GO AFFECTED NOT JUST HIM, BUT ABOUT 60 PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR THE COMPANY.

IN THE END, BILL DECIDED TO KEEP HIS COMPANY HERE.

IT WAS A CHOICE THAT HAD BOTH AN UPSIDE AND DOWN SIDE.

PLEASE WELCOME BILL MCGRATH.

[APPLAUSE] >> MY PARENTS WERE RAISED IN NEW YORK.

>> MY PARENTS WERE RAISED IN NEW HERE IN VERMONT, ACCORDING TO THE REAL VERMONTER RULES, BEST I CAN HOPE TO ACHIEVE IS THE STATUS OF FLATLANDER ONCE REMOVED.

[LAUGHTER] MY MOTHER HAD A COUSIN IN BARNARD, AND HER AND MY DAD USED TO COME UP AND VISIT THEM QUITE A BIT WHEN THEY GOT MARRIED.

EVENTUALLY THEY DECIDED TO HAVE A FAMILY HERE IN VERMONT.

THEY MOVED TO UNDERHILL, VERMONT, AND I CAME ALONG.

THEY GAVE ME A CHANCE TO GET A START IN VERMONT, BUT WOULD I STAY IN VERMONT OR TO LEAVE AND GO TO THE CITY?

I LOVED THE ELECTRICITY AS FAR BACK AS I CAN REMEMBER, GETTING YELLED AT FOR TURNING THE LIGHT SWITCH ON AND OFF AND ON AND OFF.

I LOVED ELECTRONICS, AND I WOULD TAKE THINGS APART TO SEE HOW THEY WORKED.

I WAS FASCINATED BY RADIO AND TELEVISION AND THE MIRACLE OF WIRELESS COMMUNICATION.

HOW DID THIS LITTLE BOX ATTACH TO NOTHING?

PLAY MUSIC AND INFORMATION AND ENTERTAINMENT?HOW DID THIS TV SCREEN ONLY PLUGGED INTO THE WALL SHOW THE PICTURES FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD, INCLUDING SESAME STREET?

I ASKED MY MOM WHERE THESE SIGNALS CAME FROM, AND SHE POINTED OUT IN OUR BACKYARD TO THE TOWERS UP THERE ON MOUNT MANSFIELD, WHICH WE COULD SEE.

I THOUGHT EVERYBODY COULD SEE THE TOWERS FROM THEIR BACKYARD.

AFTER HIGH SCHOOL, I WENT TO THE UNIVERSITY OF BRIDGEPORT IN CONNECTICUT.I WAS IMMERSED IN CITY LIFE.

I WANTED TO LEARN ELECTROICS BUT THE FIRST YEAR WAS ALL ENGLISH AND MATH AND HISTORY.

I GOT BORED AND TAPPED INTO AN ANTENNA IN MY DORMITORY BUILDING AND CREATED A TV STATION FOR ALL THE RESIDENTS THAT LIVED THERE.

WE PLAYED MOVIES AT NIGHT, AND WE HAD A BULLETIN BOARD DURING THE DAY AND FEATURES THE RADIO STATION, WHICH OF COURSE, I WAS HEAVILY INVOLVED WITH.

IT WAS FUN.

MORE FUN THAN GOING TO CLASS.

A GIRL IN MY DORM TOLD HER FATHER ABOUT MY TELEVISION STATION INVENTION, AND SINCE HE WORKED FOR A TELEVISION NETWORK IN NEW YORK CITY, HE OFFERED ME A JOB.

NEXT THING ISSUE I WAS ON THE SETUP OF A MAJOR EVENING NEWSCAST, KEEPING ALL THOSE MONITORS BEHIND THE ANCHOR WORKING AND SHOWING THINGS THAT WERE APPROPRIATE.

FORGET COLLEGE, I FOUND A DIFFERENT WAY TO HAVE A CAREER.

ONE DAY WHEN I CAME TO VISIT MY PARENTS I WAS THINKING ABOUT HOW IN NEW YORK I WAS LIVING IN A VERY EXPENSIVE, TINY ROOM, AND HOW THIS WAS A VERY BIG SPACE.

AND IT LOOKED A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN I REMEMBERED WHEN I LEFT IT.

THAN I REMEMBERED WHEN I LEFT SO I THOUGHT OKAY, LET ME LOOK FOR A JOB IN VERMONT.

AND EVEN THOUGH THE PAY WAS GOING TO BE OUT LESS, MY QUALITY OF LIFE WOULD BE BETTER.

I GOT A JOB AT A LOCAL TV STATION IN BURLINGTON.

ALL OF A SUDDEN I WAS DRIVING AND SNOWMOBILING AND RIDING A SNOW CAT UP TO THE SAME TOWERS I HAD SEEN AS A CHILD.

I LOVED THAT JOB.

I BECAME AN AMATEUR RADIO OPERATOR, A VOLUNTEER FIREFIHTER, AND AN EMT, AND BUT I KIND OF FELT LIKE SOMETHING WAS MISSING LIKE I DIDN'T HAVE THAT COLLEGE DEGREE AND I COULD SEE HOW THAT WOULD EVENTUALLY IMPAIR MY CAREER PATH.

SO, I HEARD ABOUT VTC HAVING THIS FOUR-YEAR DEGREE PROGRAM, AND DECIDED TO QUIT IT ALL AND GO THERE AS A NON-TRADITIONAL STUDENT, THEY CALL ME.

WITH AN ADULT MIND, I ENGAGED IN MY CLASSES.

I WAS ABLE TO STILL GET GOOD GRADES WHILE DOING THE FUN THINGS LIKE COLLEGE RADIO STATIONS AND BUILDING ELECTRIC CARS AND OTHER CLUBS.

AND I WAS AN R.A.

AND BECAME A RESIDENCE DIRECTOR, I WAS -- I STARTED TEACHING CLASSES WHILE STILL ENROLLED.

AND I GOT ELECTED AS A STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE VERMONT STATE COLLEGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

SO I WAS SIMULTANEOUSLY A STUDENT, STAFF MEMBER, FACULTY MEMBER, AND A TRUSTEE ON THE BOARD.

KIND OF LIKE TAKING THE COVER OFF ANTOINETTE ANTONIO JAR, I Y EVERYONE WAS FRUSTRATED WITH LOW PAY AND NOT ENOUGH SUPPORT FROM THE STATE OF HIGHER EDUCATION.

I TRIED TO IMPROVE THINGS THE BEST THAT I COULD.

AND I THOUGHT I MIGHT JUST TEACH THERE AT THE COLLEGE THE REST OF MY LIFE.

IT SEEMED LIKE -- SUMMERS OFF, RIGHT.

IT SEEMED LIKE -- SUMMERS OFF, WORKED THROUGH THE WINTERS.

WELL, SOME FELLAS WERE STARTING A COMPANY TO ADDRESS NEW EMERGING TECHNOLOGY.

THEY CROSSED A BARRIER WHERE IT GAVE WAY TO THE WHITE LED, AND I KNEW THAT THIS WAS POSSIBLY GOING TO REPLACE ALL FORMS OF CONVENTIONAL LIGHTING WITH A LOT MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT CHOICES.

I KNEW SOME GREAT MINDS FROM VTC, AND SO I WAS ABLE TO GET THEM TO JOIN ME AND FORM A COMPANY CALLED LED DYNAMICS RIGHT HERE IN RANDOLPH.

WE GREW IN SPURTS AND WE HAD SETBACKS, AS COMPANIES DO.

EVENTUALLY WE OUTGREW THE SPACE AND WE HAD TO MAKE A DECISION.

NEW YORK WAS OFFERING US 10 FREE YEARS OF RENT IF WE WOULD RELOCATE THERE, AND NEW HAMPSHIRE HAD LOW MINIMUM WAGE, TAX INCENTIVES AND PLENTY OF SPACE.

EVEN OUR ADVISERS WERE SAYING, THAT EITHER ONE OF THOSE LOCATIONS WOULD OFFER US MORE OPPORTUNITIES BECAUSE WE WOULD BE CLOSE TO ESTABLISHED TECH CENTERS.IF WE WERE GOING TO STAY IN VERMONT WE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE A NEW FACILITY BECAUSE THERE WAS NOT ANYTHING EXISTING AROUND THAT WOULD MEET OUR NEEDS.

THAT'S AN EXPENSIVE PROPOSITION TO BUILD IN VERMONT.

SO, I CONTACTED THE STATE WITH MY PLIGHT AND SAID I CAN'T MAKE THIS FINANCIALLY JUSTIFIABLE TO STAY IN VERMONT.

BUT I REALLY WANT TO TRY.

AND THEY RESPONDED.

AND WE WERE ABLE TO GET ENOUGH HELP TO BE ABLE TO BUILT THE FACTORY WHICH OPENED IN JUNE KEEPING THE JOBS HERE.

[APPLAUSE] SO NOW I AM ABLE TO MAKE A LIVING, CREATE MEANINGFUL JOBS, AND ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY PRODUCTS RIGHT HERE IN RANDOLPH, AND IT'S JUST A GREAT THING TO DO BUT ALSO DID I WANT TO GO TO THE CITY?

THREE HOURS I CAN BE IN MONTREAL OR BOSTON.

I CAN HIKE, CAMP, SNOWMOBILE, AND I CAN EVEN GO AND SEE A MOUNTAIN IN MY BACKYARD SO VERMONT IS THE PLACE FOR ME.

THANK YOU.

[APPLAUSE] >> SO AS YOU SAID, YOUR COMPANY, LED DYNAMICS, STARTED IN A FARMHOUSE OVER THE HILL IN ROCHESTER AND MOVED TO RANDOLPH.

YOU HAVE HAD THESE OPPORTUNITIES TO GO OTHER PLACES, AND THOUGHT ABOUT MOVING OUT OF STATE, CAN YOU GO DEEPER INTO THE PROS AND CONS THAT YOU WEIGHED IN MAKING THAT DECISION TO DAY HERE BECAUSE IT'S NOT ONE THAT COMES EASY.

>> YEAH, AND YOU KNOW, THE STORY REMAINS TO BE TOLD ABOUT WHETHER THAT WAS A GOOD IDEA OR NOT BUT I AM HAPPY ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE THAT A TRY, AND WE HAD YOU KNOW, A LOT OF TIMES IN THE HISTORY OF THE COMPANY, ESPECIALLY, STARTING IN A FARMHOUSE IN ROCHESTER, BEEN TOLD, YOU KNOW, WHY AREN'T YOU IN THE SILICON VALLEY OR BOSTON OR SOME PLACE WHERE THIS IS EXPECTED.

WE CONTINUED TO SURPRISE PEOPLE.

WE WERE ONE OF THE FIRST TO CREATE PATENTS FOR THIS TECHNOLOGY, AND WE WERE CONSTANTLY INNOVATING, AND WE MADE SOME OF THE BIG PLAYERS REALLY MAD BECAUSE THEY WERE LIKE THESE GUYS ARE IN A MUDDY PARKING LOT IN VERMONT.

AND THEY ARE INNOVATING, SO THAT'S KIND OF WHAT WE DID.

>> DO YOU LIKE BEING THE LEADER OF A COMPANY?

DO YOU LIKE RUNNING A COMPANY?

IT'S A FAR CRY FROM TINKERING IN YOUR BEDROOM.

>> I LIKE TO THINK THAT THERE IS A WHOLE TEAM BEHIND ME AND I AM JUST LUCKY ENOUGH THAT THERE IS ENOUGH OF A TEAM THAT I AM ABLE TO BE THE SPOKESPERSON SOMETIMES.

>> I DON'T KNOW IF THAT MEANS YOU LIKE IT OR NOT.

>> YEAH.

CAREFULLY WORDED.

>> AND WE OFTEN HEAR ABOUT TECH COMPANIES STRUGGLING TO FIND GOOD EMPLOYEES, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IN VERMONT, ESPECIALLY, IS AN ISSUE THAT LAWMAKERS TALK ABOUT, AND GOVERNORS, SUCCESSIVE GOVERNORS HAVE TALKED ABOUT HOW TO, HOW TO SORT OF GET SCHOOLS TO WORK TO THE SKILLS THAT EMPLOYERS NEED.

NOT NECESSARILY HAVE CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE COMING UP INTO SKILLS THAT THEN THERE ARE NO JOBS FOR.

DO YOU HAVE TROUBLE FINDING THE EMPLOYEES YOU NEED HERE?

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A GREAT LOCAL-BASED AREA FOR WORKERS, BUT THE BEST TRICK IN THE BOOK IS THAT WE HAVE VTC AS THE WELL SPRING TO BRING MORE GREAT MINDS.

AND SOME OF THE FOLKS ON MY TEAM GO BACK UP THERE TO TEACH, AND WHEN WE FIGURE OUT, YOU KNOW, WHO THE BEST FOLKS ARE, WE MIGHT SKIM THEM OFF THE TOP.

[LAUGHTER] IT'S, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY WHAT CAME OUT OF MY STORY WAS NOT JUST THE COMPANY BUT MY LOVE FOR THE COLLEGE AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT IT.

I HAD BEEN OUT THERE, AND WHEN I GOT THERE I REALIZED THAT I WAS -- THIS IS WHAT I WAS -- THIS IS WHAT I WAS MEANT TO BE AND I FEEL THAT CONNECTION WILL EMPOWER US TO CONTINUE TO HAVE A GOOD STREAM OF FOLKS COMING IN WITH GREAT JOBS.

THE HARDEST PART IS, HONESTLY, THAT OTHER FOLKS THAT HAVE TASTED VTC, THEY GET ADDICTED TO THEM.>> YOU HEARD YOU WERE A NON-TRADITIONAL STUDENT.

THAT'S AN INTIMIDATING THING FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO EITHER DIDN'T GET A DEGREE OR WOULD LIKE TO GET A DIFFERENT KIND OF A DEGREE OR SEE A PATH TO A DIFFERENT CAREER, BUT THAT GOES THROUGH A COLLEGE SETTING, AND THAT CAN BE DAUNTING IN MANY WAYS.

DO YOU HAVE ADVICE FOR OTHER ADULTS WHO ARE, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO PURSUE THIS PATH AND THINKING, COLLEGE MIGHT BE THE WAY TO GO?

>> YEAH, AND GET OVER T HIGHER EDUCATION IS EVERYTHING.

IF YOU CAN, IF YOU CAN POSSIBLY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT, I MEAN, IT DID NOT REALLY OCCUR TO ME UNTIL I SUDDENLY WAS THERE AND REALIZED, I AM A FEW YEARS OLDER THAN THESE FOLKS, AND THE ADMISSIONS GUY CALLED ME A NON-TATIONNON--- A NON-TRADITIOL STUDENT, AND I SAID OKAY, I WILL WEAR T AND I WAS A ROLE MODEL FOR THOSE FOLKS, WHICH MADE UP FOR MY EARLIER, FORGET COLLEGE STATEMENT.

>> I SUPPOSE IT DOES NOT MEAN STATEMENT.

PONG?

>> OH, NO, IN FACT, WE ARE THE ONLY ONES LEGALLY ALLOWED TO PLAY.

ONLY ONES LEGALLY ALLOWED TO >> A LOT OF VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND EMERGENCY RESCUE SQUADS ARE REALLY STRUGGLING TO FILL THEIR RANKS RIGHT NOW, AND THERE IS A LOT OF CONVERSATION ABOUT WHETHER AND HOW TO QUOTE/UNQUOTE PROFESSIONALIZE THE RANKS OR HOW TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE ARE EMERGENCY SERVICE THIS IS SMALL COMMUNITIES, AND THAT'S HAPPENING AROUND THE STATE.

HOW DO WE FIX THAT PROBLEM?

>> YOU KNOW, THIS KIND OF TIES INTO ANOTHER SLIDE THAT I SAW BEFORE THE SHOW HERE WHERE WE WANT CHILDCARE FOLKS TO BE PROFESSIONALS.WE WANT THESE EMERGENCY FOLKS TO BE PROFESSIONALS, AND IT WAS STARTING WHEN I WAS JOINING, AND WE HAD TO GO THROUGH THE TRAINING, WHICH I THINK WAS BETTER THAN THE OLDER, BUT THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN, IF YOU ASK TOO MUCH, THESE ARE VOLUNTEERS, AND SO NOW WE ARE BEING REQUIRED TO DO THINGS LIKE, BECAUSE OF INSURANCE BEING REQUIRED TO DO THINGS EMPLOYEES OF THE TOWN.

IT BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT TO RUN A CLUB OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT WHEN IT COMES TO THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT YOU HAVE TO SPEND WITH THE ADMINISTRATIVE OVERHEAD AND TRAINING THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE REVEL.>> TOO MUCH REGULATION IN THIS STATE?

REVEL.>> TOO MUCH REGULATION IN THIS SHOULD BE VERY CAREFUL OF.

>> AGAIN, VERY CAREFULLY WORDED.

YOU AND OUR FIRST STORYTELLER, MORGAN, SHARE IN COMMON THIS POSITION THAT YOU HAVE HELD ON THE STATE BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

THAT'S COOL THAT YOU ARE BOTH, YOU KNOW, YOU BOTH AT DIFFERENT STAGES OF YOUR LIFE IN DIFFERENT WAYS HAVE COME TO THIS REALIZATION FOR BOTH OF YOU THIS HAS BEEN AN IMPORTANT PART OF YOUR LIFE AND YOUR DEVELOPMENT.

>> YEAH, AND IT WAS NOT AN EASY TASK TO, YOU KNOW, TO SUDDENLY BE TRUSTED UNDER THE CORPORATE BOARD OF A CORPORATION.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW, IT TAKES YOU TOTALLY BY A DIFFERENT DIMENSION THAN WHAT YOU ARE USED TO FROM THE OTHER PERSPECTIVES, BUT I COULD SEE FROM EVERYBODY'S PERSPECTIVE WHY THEY WERE ALL FRUSTRATED.THEY WANTED THE BEST FOR AM SYSTEM, AND YOU KNOW, AND JUST A TOUGH SITUATION.

>> BILL, YOU ARE THE LAST STORY-TELLER SO YOU GET THE HONOR OF HELPING TO WRAP EVERYTHING UP, AND YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE HEARD ALL OF YOUR FELLOW STORY-TELLERS PRACTICING AND THINKING ABOUT WHAT THEY WANTED TO SAY TONIGHT AND HOW THEIR STORIES HELPED ILLUMINATE SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT WE SEE IN VERMONT.

OF THE ISSUES THAT WE SEE IN FIVE OF YOU SOMEWHERE DIFFERENT STORIES BUT A LOT OF THROUGH LINES, AS WELL.

ARE YOU OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE STATE?

DO YOU SEE THINGS HAPPENING IN THESE STORIES OF PEOPLE HERE THAT GIVE YOU HOPE ABOUT WHO WE ARE AND WHERE WE ARE GOING?

>> YEAH, I THINK THAT WE -- I HEAR THE STRUGGLE WITH OUR POPULATION, AGING POPULATION, AND THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT I THINK THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES IF WE KEEP UP THE FIGHT TO KEEP VERMONT, YOU KNOW, BOTH WITH THE GENERAL STORES THAT WE NEED TO TRY TO PRESERVE, IF POSSIBLE, I KNOW THAT I TRY TO GIVE A LOT BACK TO THE TRADITIONAL WAYS AND LEARN FROM THE FOLKS EVEN AND I AM ONLY GOING TO BE A, YOU KNOW, A FLATLANDER ONCE REMOVED BUT I GOING TO BE A, YOU KNOW, A ABOUT VERMONT AS I CAN.

[LAUGHTER]I THINK THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THAT WE REALIZE GOING FORWARD IT'S REALLY US THAT MAKE VERMONT.