Eric Rozendaal Memorial Award

Eric Rozendaal Memorial Award

Funder: Vermont Land Trust Inc

Award Amount: $5,000 per year

Geographic Scope: Vermont residents only

Program Duration: Annual awards through 2028

Purpose

Honors the legacy of Eric Rozendaal, a thoughtful, creative, and entrepreneurial farmer who was a pioneer of Vermont's local food movement. The award recognizes farmers who exemplify land stewardship, community engagement, and agricultural innovation.

Eligibility Requirements

• Must be a Vermont resident
• Must be actively managing or working on a commercial farm operation in Vermont
• Must not have received this award in the past
• Applicant does not need to own the farm (can be a worker/manager)
• Not eligible: Members of award selection committee, current VLT staff and board members, and their immediate family members (spouses, civil union partners, parents, siblings, children, or other relatives residing in the household)

Selection Criteria

Applications are evaluated on three main criteria:

Land Stewardship:

Demonstrated commitment to building healthy soils

Protecting natural resources

Giving Back:

Commitment to community and fellow farmers

May include mentorship, community engagement, or other activities

Entrepreneurism:

Demonstrated entrepreneurial approach to farming

May include introducing new farm products or developing new markets

Use of Award Funds:

Must provide clear description of recent or planned projects related to the award criteria

Award money can be applied to current projects or recently completed projects

Funds must be directly applied to the project described in the application

Selection Process

• Applications reviewed and scored by a Selection Committee consisting of leaders in the Vermont agricultural community
• Winner announced at Vermont Land Trust's annual meeting
• Awardee must agree to cooperate with VLT publicity efforts (press releases, newsletters, website, social media)

Contact

Jessie Estes, Executive Assistant
• Email: jessie.estes@vlt.org
• Phone: (802) 272-7036

Past Winners

• 2025: Hannah Doyle (Boneyard Farm, Fletcher)
• 2024: Sara Armstrong Donegan and James Donegan (Trillium Hill Farm, Hinesburg)
• 2023: Kara and Ryan Fitzbeauchamp (Evening Song Farm, Shrewsbury)
• 2022: Jennifer Rodriguez (Triple J Pastures, Irasburg)
• 2021: Christine Bourque (Blue Heron Farm, Grand Isle)
• 2020: Amanda Andrews (Tamarack Hollow Farm, Plainfield) and Tom Gilbert (Black Dirt Farm, Greensboro Bend)
• 2019: Corie Pierce (Bread & Butter Farm)