WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-Vt. Farm Kids Ponder Future

Vt. Farm Kids Ponder Future

New Haven, Vermont - August 4, 2009

Megan Quesnel helps her family milk more than 90 cows at their farm in Whiting.

"It's a lot to take on," she says.

She knows of several farms that have shut down due to low milk prices and high bills... and several more struggling to hang on.

"Everybody's having trouble, but we'll make it through. We're born and raised farmers. So it's what we'll always be," she says.

Asked if she herself will always be a farmer, Megan Quesnel answers, "Ummm... I'm glad the farm's there, because I want to go back to it at some point. But I might move farther away. It's nice to have it there."

The 16-year-old is one of a generation of farmers' children wondering if there's any point in following in their parents' footsteps. Large farms and established family operations with property paid off may have the best chance of survival.

"I don't think too many people are planning to go into it right now because it's such a mess," says Emily Millman of Burlington.

The 17-year-old 4-H member splits her time between Burlington and Fairfield, where she cares for her girls as she calls them. She sees no future for herself in the unstable dairy industry, but does hope to continue working with a handful of animals as a pastime.

"I'm planning on going into nursing, but I'd love to have cows," Emily Millman says. "So we'll see how that goes."

A similar story for 17-year-old Andrew Levesque of Rupert.

"I'll be a teacher and get all my benefits and then have the farm on the side. And the income from teaching will supplement my farm," he says.

Andrew Levesque says that way he can still do what he loves.

He hopes to eventually teach students about agriculture. Already today's farm kids have learned tough lessons from their family and neighbors.

"They need to raise the milk price," Millman says. "And the extra money needs to go to the farmers. Not the middle people."

Even though the kids know times are tough for farming, they say that's why events like the Addison County Fair and Field Days are so important. But they make people feel good about this industry that means so much to Vermont and its landscape. They're all hoping for a turnaround and will be showing their cows very proudly through Saturday in New Haven.

Jack Thurston - WCAX News