Pizzagalli Family Farm Fund Recognizes All Vermont Farms as ‘Fantastic’

Donation to the 'Vermont Farm Fund' acknowledges the significant 2025 weather challenges faced by all Vermont farmers

October 31, 2025 | Montpelier, VT - Over the last several years, the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets (VAAFM) has presented the 'Fantastic Farmer' award to a Vermont farmer passionately representing the heritage, culture, and environmental stewardship goals that our farmers and farming community strive for every day. The $5,000 grant that comes with this annual award is made possible by the A. Pizzagalli Family Farm Fund. With the statewide drought impacting all farms across the state and in lieu of an award to any one farmer this year, the Pizzagalli family has decided to donate to the Vermont Farm Fund to recognize that all Vermont farmers are 'fantastic' in their efforts to sustain this mission in the face of significant weather challenges.

"With this year's drought being felt by so many of our state's farmers, the A. Pizzagalli Family Fund wants to help support our valuable food providers and land stewards through this important assistance fund," said Lisa Pizzagalli. "We thank our farmers and their families for their hard work and persistence feeding us through these extraordinary weather events."

The 'Fantastic Farmer ' title is one of three annual award programs supported by the Pizzagalli family. Including the Vermont Barn Painting Project and the High-Quality Milk Awards, the mission of the Fund is to support farmer efforts to grow their business, cultivate and deliver their products to the consumer in a way that respects the heritage, culture, and stewardship that our farmers and farming community strive for every day.

The Vermont Farm Fund is a program of the Center for an Agricultural Economy (CAE) located in Hardwick, Vermont. The program provides easy-to-access, friendly-term loans to local farmers and food producers. The program is a true revolving loan fund; as the community of recipients pay back their loans, funds are replenished for the next cycle of borrowers, creating a sustainable assistance fund for ongoing and future challenges.

"We are thrilled to receive this support for the Vermont Farm Fund from the A. Pizzagalli Family Farm Fund when the demand for capital provided by the Vermont Farm Fund is at an all-time high," said Jon Ramsay, Executive Director of CAE. "By the end of 2025 we expect the Vermont Farm Fund to have provided over $700,000 in low interest loans to farms across Vermont this year."

In March, The Vermont Dairy Industry Association, announced the 2024 Vermont High-Quality Milk Awards. The awards, also funded by the Pizzagalli family, recognize the dairy farmers who produced Vermont's highest quality milk in 2024. These farmers were recognized at the annual Vermont Dairy Producers Conference.

These awards were presented to:

• Overall Winner - Howmar's Farm - Franklin, VT - $2,500
• 1^st Runner up - Steven & Leslie Miller Brown - East Burke, VT - $1,500
• 2^nd Runner up - Essex Farm - Vergennes, VT - $1,000

Also, this summer, eight barns around the state received a fresh coat of paint through the Vermont Barn Painting Project. These barns were painted by their owners, who then received up to an $8,000 micro-grant from the A. Pizzagalli Family Farm Fund. This program reimburses barn owners for improving and preserving their barns and farm property for future generations and improve their roadside appeal across Vermont, for their local communities, visitors, and tourists.

"Congratulations to our farmers for all you do for Vermont. You feed us, take care of our land and animals, and give back to our communities. We are also grateful to have the support of the Pizzagalli family. These investments are making a difference to our farmers and to Vermont," said Vermont Agriculture Secretary Anson Tebbetts.

The Vermont Barn Painting Project will continue the program next year and beyond. Any Vermont barn owner who may have interest in the program should visit the Vermont Barn Painting Project to learn more.

**Attached

• Before & After Barn Painting - Morning Meadows Farm - Pittsford VT