Heifer International to sell Rutland farm
By
Paula J. Owen
Correspondent
Posted Dec 3, 2017 at 3:58 PM
Updated Dec 4, 2017 at 12:01 PM
RUTLAND – Heifer International’s recent decision to close the iconic
Heifer Farm and sell it is being met with ire by some who are asking why
the international nonprofit didn’t try harder to make it work.
Bill J. Foreman, director of public relations for the organization, which is headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas, said the decision to close the educational farm on Wachusett Street was driven by a major shift in strategy at Heifer.
The farm is one of Heifer International’s U.S. learning centers, providing educational programming about the root causes of poverty and hunger, how Heifer International is working to end hunger, and what people can do to help.
Mr. Foreman said the organization wants to devote more of its resources to working with small-scale farmers to achieve a living income with sustainable agriculture.
“To help more farmers achieve a living income, we must focus on reaching more small-scale farmers in fewer locations to maximize our limited resources for impact,” Mr. Foreman said. “We must accelerate our work to recruit, train and market the next generation of small-scale farmers to end poverty in the communities where we work.”
Heifer USA is seeing “excellent” growth in two farmer cooperatives working in Arkansas, he said, and is building a model that is sustainable and profitable.
“Our business plan calls for investing even more in these efforts to ensure farmer livelihoods and establish Heifer USA as the leader in sustainable agriculture,” he added.
Heifer Farm is located on a 270-acre pastoral property with views of Boston and Mount Wachusett. According to Rutland Assessor Diane Peterson, about 200 acres of the farm, with an assessed value of about $1.48 million, are in Rutland and are conserved in perpetuity through a state Agricultural Preservation Restriction that prevents the land from being built upon for non-agricultural purposes or used for any activity detrimental to agriculture. The other 70 acres are located in Princeton and include buildings owned by Heifer and are not covered by an agricultural restriction, she said.
Rutland Selectman Sheila H. Dibb said she is shocked and angered by Heifer’s decision. Heifer did not give the town any notice and the elementary school was planning a trip for fifth-graders to the farm this year, she said.
“I’m in mourning, but I’m furious,” Ms. Dibb said. “I found out a couple of days after the Heifer Farm employees found out. I’m shocked. Some people have worked there over a decade and poured their hearts and souls into that place. I’m really angry. I don’t think (Heifer) headquarters considered the local community at all and how much it is part of the fabric of this community.
“That property was donated by a local farm owner whose son is still here,” she continued. “The gentleman who donated it passed away not too long ago. It is still raw.”
The late William Williams donated the land in Rutland to Heifer International in 1983 to establish a Heifer International learning and livestock center in the Northeast. Over the last three decades, agriculture production enterprises on the property have grown to include two acres of organic gardens, 30 acres of pasture managed by intensive rotational grazing, 240 acres of woodlands and more than 20 species of livestock, according to Heifer International’s website.
“I am frustrated. This is the second time in recent history we’ve gone through a large nonprofit divesting itself with no concern for the community,” Ms. Dibb said, alluding to a historic farmhouse torn down on a Trustees of Reservations property. “I’m always in favor of Heifer’s mission, but I feel they have purposely chosen not to take advantage of opportunities to make the farm more self-sufficient. They are saying it costs money to run it, but they missed opportunities and Shon (Shon H. Rainford, the manager) was not given enough chance to do it. Also, they are not cognizant of the fact that having a farm that large, with that view and infrastructure in New England, they were sitting on such a gold mine. It is short-sighted to let it go. People drive half a day from all over the Eastern seaboard for this location here. Why did they not see that?”
Ms. Dibb said she is hoping a coalition of “angels and investors” who “think outside of the box” can continue to allow public access to the farm.
Mr. Rainford, education and facilities managing partner for Heifer
USA, began working at the farm in 2008, relocating from South Carolina.
“It’s personally difficult,” he said. “We just found out a handful of days ago. It is not my current plan to stay with Heifer, but my home is in Rutland now, so I will be staying here.”
Nine full-time employees work at the farm, he said. Some have been invited to stay on with Heifer, Mr. Rainford said, but there are no other local opportunities with the organization.
“It is possible they (the town) may get an ideal buyer, someone who wants to continue to operate a hub of sustainability in agriculture in the Northeast and keep it open to the public,” he said. “I don’t know what the future holds. It is hard to say.”
There are 23 cattle, two yaks, 32 sheep, 15 goats, five rabbits, one llama, 11 hogs and 200 chickens on the farm.
Mr. Rainford said the plan is to find the best homes for the animals.
“I expect they will go to farmers in the local area,” he said.
He said he is not aware of any offers for the property, which is not officially on the market yet.
Programming is set to end Dec. 31, he said.
The farm’s biggest event, the holiday open house held the first two weekends of December, is still on, he said. It will be the last one at Heifer Farm. There will be a visit from Santa, gingerbread and other foods, a bake sale, kids’ crafts, decorating and hay rides. The gift shop will remain open and sessions of goat yoga will continue to the end of the year.
The open house, held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, “is a fun holiday event focused around the spirit of giving,” Mr. Rainford said. “It is free to get in and a great opportunity to come celebrate the farm as it stands for one last time.”
Bill J. Foreman, director of public relations for the organization, which is headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas, said the decision to close the educational farm on Wachusett Street was driven by a major shift in strategy at Heifer.
The farm is one of Heifer International’s U.S. learning centers, providing educational programming about the root causes of poverty and hunger, how Heifer International is working to end hunger, and what people can do to help.
Mr. Foreman said the organization wants to devote more of its resources to working with small-scale farmers to achieve a living income with sustainable agriculture.
“To help more farmers achieve a living income, we must focus on reaching more small-scale farmers in fewer locations to maximize our limited resources for impact,” Mr. Foreman said. “We must accelerate our work to recruit, train and market the next generation of small-scale farmers to end poverty in the communities where we work.”
Heifer USA is seeing “excellent” growth in two farmer cooperatives working in Arkansas, he said, and is building a model that is sustainable and profitable.
“Our business plan calls for investing even more in these efforts to ensure farmer livelihoods and establish Heifer USA as the leader in sustainable agriculture,” he added.
Heifer Farm is located on a 270-acre pastoral property with views of Boston and Mount Wachusett. According to Rutland Assessor Diane Peterson, about 200 acres of the farm, with an assessed value of about $1.48 million, are in Rutland and are conserved in perpetuity through a state Agricultural Preservation Restriction that prevents the land from being built upon for non-agricultural purposes or used for any activity detrimental to agriculture. The other 70 acres are located in Princeton and include buildings owned by Heifer and are not covered by an agricultural restriction, she said.
Rutland Selectman Sheila H. Dibb said she is shocked and angered by Heifer’s decision. Heifer did not give the town any notice and the elementary school was planning a trip for fifth-graders to the farm this year, she said.
“I’m in mourning, but I’m furious,” Ms. Dibb said. “I found out a couple of days after the Heifer Farm employees found out. I’m shocked. Some people have worked there over a decade and poured their hearts and souls into that place. I’m really angry. I don’t think (Heifer) headquarters considered the local community at all and how much it is part of the fabric of this community.
“That property was donated by a local farm owner whose son is still here,” she continued. “The gentleman who donated it passed away not too long ago. It is still raw.”
The late William Williams donated the land in Rutland to Heifer International in 1983 to establish a Heifer International learning and livestock center in the Northeast. Over the last three decades, agriculture production enterprises on the property have grown to include two acres of organic gardens, 30 acres of pasture managed by intensive rotational grazing, 240 acres of woodlands and more than 20 species of livestock, according to Heifer International’s website.
“I am frustrated. This is the second time in recent history we’ve gone through a large nonprofit divesting itself with no concern for the community,” Ms. Dibb said, alluding to a historic farmhouse torn down on a Trustees of Reservations property. “I’m always in favor of Heifer’s mission, but I feel they have purposely chosen not to take advantage of opportunities to make the farm more self-sufficient. They are saying it costs money to run it, but they missed opportunities and Shon (Shon H. Rainford, the manager) was not given enough chance to do it. Also, they are not cognizant of the fact that having a farm that large, with that view and infrastructure in New England, they were sitting on such a gold mine. It is short-sighted to let it go. People drive half a day from all over the Eastern seaboard for this location here. Why did they not see that?”
Ms. Dibb said she is hoping a coalition of “angels and investors” who “think outside of the box” can continue to allow public access to the farm.
“It’s personally difficult,” he said. “We just found out a handful of days ago. It is not my current plan to stay with Heifer, but my home is in Rutland now, so I will be staying here.”
Nine full-time employees work at the farm, he said. Some have been invited to stay on with Heifer, Mr. Rainford said, but there are no other local opportunities with the organization.
“It is possible they (the town) may get an ideal buyer, someone who wants to continue to operate a hub of sustainability in agriculture in the Northeast and keep it open to the public,” he said. “I don’t know what the future holds. It is hard to say.”
There are 23 cattle, two yaks, 32 sheep, 15 goats, five rabbits, one llama, 11 hogs and 200 chickens on the farm.
Mr. Rainford said the plan is to find the best homes for the animals.
“I expect they will go to farmers in the local area,” he said.
Programming is set to end Dec. 31, he said.
The farm’s biggest event, the holiday open house held the first two weekends of December, is still on, he said. It will be the last one at Heifer Farm. There will be a visit from Santa, gingerbread and other foods, a bake sale, kids’ crafts, decorating and hay rides. The gift shop will remain open and sessions of goat yoga will continue to the end of the year.
The open house, held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, “is a fun holiday event focused around the spirit of giving,” Mr. Rainford said. “It is free to get in and a great opportunity to come celebrate the farm as it stands for one last time.”
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