NEWPORT — Two Northeast Kingdom students have been honored by the Vermont Land Trust for their dedication to farming and forestry, the conservation organization announced.
Ephraim Elmer of Lowell and Eva Bury of Derby each received a Land Steward Award along with a $500 check. They were among nine students across the state recognized this year.
“We applaud Ephraim and Eva for their achievements,” said Tracy Zschau, president and CEO of the Vermont Land Trust. “These students are dedicated to sustainable land stewardship, from working with livestock to growing food and caring for forests and trees. They care deeply about Vermont’s working lands and apply their learning mind-set to ensure our working lands remain vibrant for future generations.”
The awards are in their 22nd year. Since 2005, the land trust has recognized outstanding high-school juniors and seniors committed to agriculture and forestry. Each spring, instructors from Vermont’s farming, forestry and natural resources programs can nominate students for the honor.
Elmer, a graduating senior at the Green Mountain Technical and Career Center in Hyde Park, was nominated by his Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems instructor, Sam Rowley, who cited his academic achievement, innovative vision and focus on sustainable farming.
Elmer helps produce raw milk and pork on his family’s farm. He plans to continue working there and to learn about cured meats as a way to expand the farm’s offerings.
“Ephraim views his work on the farm as an inherited legacy and a fundamental part of his identity,” Rowley said.
During his time at the career center’s Robtoy Farm in Cambridge, Elmer developed a wide range of skills, from caring for cows, goats and laying chickens to all aspects of vegetable farming. In the past year, he interned at Green Mountain Farm to School in Newport and worked at the Farm Connex warehouse.
“I have loved working with animals for as long as I can remember,” Elmer said. “For the past few years I have wanted to become a farmer, and knowing the importance of sustainable agriculture has only given me more incentive.”
Bury, a rising senior at the North Country Career Center in Newport, was nominated by her Animal and Environmental Systems Science instructor, Emily Dehoff, for what Dehoff described as thoughtful, attentive stewardship.
“Eva consistently demonstrates care for both the animals and the land through her thoughtful and attentive actions,” Dehoff said.
Bury has immersed herself in agriculture while excelling academically. She earned high honors throughout high school and completed three college credits for her coursework, while serving in leadership roles for the local FFA chapter and earning local and national 4-H awards.
Over four years working at a local dairy farm, Bury has developed strong skills in animal care and herd management. She has also spent several years breeding her own line of show cows, drawing on both classroom and practical experience to foster a high-quality herd.
After studying animal science in college, she hopes to work alongside farmers to improve the overall health and quality of their herds.
“Stewarding the land means caring for something bigger than me — nurturing the earth that sustains us and giving back to it with intention,” Bury said.
Seven other students from across Vermont also received Land Steward Awards this year.
