NEWFANE — On Friday, Aug. 24, Roger Albee will be the featured speaker at the Historical Society of Windham County's annual meeting held at the NewBrook Fire House in Newfane at 7 p.m.
Vermont has a long and very diverse agricultural history. Albee's presentation will focus on the changes in agriculture that have taken place since the French and Indian War when white settlers moved into the area from primarily Southern New England.
Going from subsistence farmers in the beginning, to the sheep craze, to the butter period, to supplying fluid milk to Boston and surrounding areas, Vermont farmers have always adapted to changing markets while also practicing diversified agriculture. Throughout history Windham County farmers have been part of these changes.
Albee grew up on a hillside farm in Brookline. His father's family were some of the original settlers to the area after the French and Indian War. He graduated from UVM, and after his military obligation, received his graduate degree in agricultural economics from the University of Massachusetts. He has worked at the international, national, regional, and state level in agriculture and food systems, most recently as Vermont's Secretary of Agriculture.
Preceding Mr. Albee's presentation will be the annual meeting at 5 p.m. and a pot luck dinner at 6 p.m. There is no charge for the event and the community is welcome to attend. For more information, visit http://historicalsocietyofwindhamcounty.org.