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(03/20/13 12:35am)
This winter term, Jeff Dobronyi ’13 and Oliver Sutro ’14 lived every Middlebury student’s dream: they spent nearly every day at the Snow Bowl. These avid skiers weren’t simply there for fun, or even for work (although Dobronyi is on Ski Patrol and Sutro works at the Snow School). Both were hard at work, taking photos and compiling data for a new and improved Snow Bowl website. This website undertaking was the product of an independent project for course credit.
Dobronyi and Sutro started their respective winter term internships at the Bowl expecting to work on a new marketing campaign with one main goal: to increase revenue through ticket and season pass sales. They quickly realized, however, that any attempt at launching a new publicity campaign would be limited by the Snow Bowl website, or lack thereof.
“The old site is pretty terrible,” Sutro said bluntly. “It gives people the impression that the Bowl may not even be open to the public. There is no current media, no place to access current snow conditions except by signing up for daily emails.”
Working in conjunction with other Snow Bowl employees, Sutro and Dobronyi determined that the Snow Bowl was losing possible customers because of its poorly-designed and lackluster website. They realized that attempts to advertise would invariably be limited by the outdated website. With this in mind, Sutro and Dobronyi came to the conclusion that revamping the Snow Bowl website was the single most important step towards updating the Snow Bowl’s marketing campaign. So they decided to use their creativity and knack for photographing intense action shots of powder skiing to create a completely new website.
The new website took advantage of this winter’s heavy snowfall to highlight some of the action photographs of powder skiing at the Snow Bowl. Considering the lack of snow in the 2011-12 season, these powder shots could not have been taken last year.
With the early closure last season leading to fewer season’s pass purchases despite drastically improved ski conditions in the 2012-13 season, the Snow Bowl would have a lot to gain from this increased publicity. Tuesday’s storm ensured that the ski season will continue for at least another week.
“The skiing last year was pretty marginal,” said Anna Breu ’15, who agrees the new website is an improvement. “The backside of the bowl wasn’t even open, and that’s where the best powder skiing has been this year.”
Though creation of the website itself did not take very long, the site only went live this month.
“The website had been ready to go for a long time, but like most student-initiated projects at Midd, there was a lot of red tape.” Sutro said.
Bill Burger, the newly instated vice president of communications at Middlebury with whom Sutro and Dobronyi worked, had just arrived at Middlebury and had a lot of additional work. But after emailing in circles, the dynamic duo was able to find the right person in charge of Middlebury’s server.
“Week three of spring term Bill finally gave us this guy’s name and said ‘go ahead to launch the site as soon as you want’,” said Sutro.
Sutro and Dobronyi contacted the server administrator, but were further delayed. Now that the site is finally up, they are optimistic about the future of the Snow Bowl. They are convinced that once students and skiers see the photos taken over winter term, they will be persuaded that the terrain is not as limited as previously thought.
Sutro and Dobronyi’s project is just the first step toward the re-imagined public image for the Snow Bowl. With the new website, the Snow Bowl hopes to attract more students and members of the general public alike.
Sutro, Dobronyi and the rest of the Snow Bowl are excited for the new website’s potential.
“I want Midd kids to know about [the Snow Bowl],” said Sutro. “I want them to come to the bowl, shred the gnar and feel lucky to have their own mountain.”
(02/27/13 4:38pm)
Over the past few years, the Snow Bowl has gone through some dramatic renovations, both in facilities and policy. Though the unpredictable weather during this current ski season has required skiers and boarders to adapt to a variety of snow conditions, the weather now is providing excellent conditions for Snow Bowl goers.
“We’ve had ups and downs in terms of weather but are experiencing the best conditions of the season right now!” said Snow Bowl Manager Peter Mackey this past weekend.
Beyond the revamping of Worth Mountain chair in 2010, there has also been the recent addition of a magic carpet for beginner skiers — thanks to a generous gift from two families who have been long-time supporters of the Snow Bowl. Officially called the “SunKid Wonder Carpet,” this contraption consists of a conveyor belt with 10 speeds that transports skiers and boarders to the top of a “bunny slope.”
According to Snow School Director Susan Davis, the carpet is “a huge asset in promoting more practice time on true beginner terrain.” While in the past all beginner trails required a chairlift to access, now young beginner skiers can ride the Wonder Carpet within clear view of parents. General consensus is that the terrain serviced by the Wonder Carpet is more manageable than that of other “beginner” trails at the Snow Bowl.
Some say that the terrain at the Snow Bowl is one step more challenging than that of other popular ski resorts in the area like Okemo and Killington.
According to Susan Davis, “our beginner ‘Green Circle’ trails accessed off our two front side chairlifts are often described as having more of a ‘Blue Square’ intermediate character.”
Though there are no double black diamond trails at the Snow Bowl, the single-diamond and tree trails provide enough of a challenge for even expert skiers.
Tree skiing at the Snow Bowl, when sufficient powder allows it, is “some of the best in Vermont, especially with the new boundary-to-boundary policy,” said Ski School Instructor Grace Donovan ’13.5 of Enterprise, Ore.
The new “boundary-to-boundary” policy, adopted last year, permits skiing and boarding anywhere through the woods as long as skiers and riders proceed at their own risk. Just this past year a complementary safety policy was implemented that mandates wearing a helmet for all Snow Bowl staff and patrons.
Due to the erratic weather this season, including rapid changes from 50-degree weather and rain to below-freezing temperatures, conditions at the bowl have at times become dangerous.
The first week of winter term, after a snowstorm that had produced ideal powder skiing conditions, Avery Shawler ’13 took on the terrain at the Snow Bowl without fear. The weather had resulted in hidden patches of ice, however, and Showler experienced a fall that left her with a minor concussion.
“I don’t remember the accident or evacuation at all since the concussion caused some short-term memory loss, but I do remember the doctor showing me the dent in the front of my helmet when I was in the emergency room. He told me that if I not been wearing a helmet I might have suffered permanent brain damage.”
While changes to the Snow Bowl’s physical and social climate have indeed taken place, certain annual events rooted in tradition live on. The torch light parade over February break remains a highlight of the ski season, and “Fun Day,” on Saturday March 30, when everyone dresses up in vintage ski clothing, is a day not to miss. Winter term student lessons, at five for just $50, and a student season’s pass for $160 are prices unrivaled by other Vermont ski areas.
(11/29/12 3:23am)
Vermont farmers have a lot at stake in the drafting of the 2012 Farm Bill, which is expected to include a record number of budget cuts due to the current state of the economy. The farm bill, which is renewed every five years, has been a recurring entity in legislation since the years of the Great Depression, when growers of commodity crops first began receiving subsidies.
Vermont dairy farmers are struggling as a result of the record drought last summer, among other factors. Though grain belt farmers were directly impacted by the drought, the cost burden was passed on to dairy farmers, who are forced to pay a higher price for grain in order to feed their animals. Now these same farmers face the risk of losing the Milk Income Loss Contract (MILC) safety net they have depended on for years.
This past September when the 2008 Farm Bill expired, dairy policy leaders in the Senate and House pushed for an interim budget plan to serve as a temporary safety net until the new Farm Bill passed. This initiative at the national level was led by Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Bernie Sanders (I-VT), as well as Representative Peter Welch (D-VT). However, they were unable to divert attention from other priorities in Congress and as a result, commodity farmers dependent on the federal government for subsidies now find themselves in limbo.
Many in Congress agree that it is unfair to put farmers’ lives on hold and continue to push for action.
“The farmers already confront enough uncertainty running their businesses. When we let farm programs expire without enacting a new farm bill, it needlessly compounds that uncertainty and it is irresponsible,” argued Leahy in a speech this month on the Senate floor. He pointed out that both farmers and underprivileged urban classes are suffering as a result of this delay, which has also put funding for federal nutrition and food stamps programs on hold.
“Vermonters, like tens of millions of people across the country, depend upon these programs [when] they are struggling to put enough food on their table during these very tough economic times,” Leahy added.
Now that the 2008 Farm Bill (officially called the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008) has expired, Congress is still unable to agree on a final 2012 bill, which will be called the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2012. This $500 billion farm bill is currently deadlocked in Congress during the post-election lame duck session.
“The challenge for the current farm bill is that many conservative Republican members in the House want to see federal government spending cut substantially, which means cuts to programs and interests,” pointed out Stafford Professor of Public Policy, Political Science and Environmental Studies Chris Klyza.
“This influences the political dynamics — a representative from urban Philadelphia may have voted for the Farm Bill in the past because of food aid for her constituents. If that aid is cut, why should she vote for drought aid for western ranchers?” Klyza proposed.
Many conservatives in Congress are pressing for budget cuts all around. The Democrat-led Senate passed their version of the bill in June, proposing budget cuts of around $35 billion over the next 10 years. While this proposal was enough to appease Senate Republicans wary of government spending, the Republican-led House has still been unable to reach a compromise. Up until early this month, representatives had the excuse of being distracted by campaigns for reelection, but now the only remaining obstacle is gridlock.
Gridlock usually refers to clashing partisan interests, but in the farm bill debate it is actually regional interests that are preventing compromise. The recurring farm bill debate is unusual in that it actually transcends political party divisions.
Democrats and Republicans alike from districts with agriculturally-dependent economies tend to push equally for generous subsidies. Similarly, other conservatives find a common goal with liberals involved in the local foods movement: to eliminate excessive subsidies for wealthy farmers who don’t actually need them. Back in 2008, President George W. Bush vetoed the Farm Bill for benefiting overly wealthy farmers, as it guaranteed aid to farmers with a gross income of up to $750,000. The overwhelmingly Democratic Congress overrode his veto.
Some point out that there is an incredible amount of antiquated logic embedded in the farm bill. Josh Slotnick, farmer and professor at the University of Montana who lectured at the College earlier this week, pointed out the injustice in our food system.
“If you want to sell your bike on Craigslist, you are the one who sets the price,” said Slotnick. “For growers of commodity crops, they don’t have that privilege. The buyer sets the price. You’re dealing with a whole different realm.”
Gradual cutback of subsidies would work in the favor of commodity farmers in the long run, gradually giving them more autonomy and stability over their incomes. Budget cuts would benefit smaller farmers by putting them on a more level playing field with large-scale conventional farmers of commodity crops.
In recent years, concerns over the impact of dwindling natural resources and increasing demand due to rising population have pushed conservation issues into consideration under the Farm Bill. Support for local, sustainably grown food was also growing; although the 2008 financial crisis has dampened this support.
Native Vermonter Hillary Chutter-Ames ’13 emphasizes how farms are “the key to maintaining a sustainable local food system and building strong communities.” According to Chutter-Ames, they are “a vital part of the social and economic fabric of Vermont.”
With the uncertainty of the upcoming bill, this social and economic fabric — and farmers’ livelihoods — remain at stake.
(10/25/12 3:43am)
Ascutney Mountain Resort, located in Brownsville, Vt. is poised to enter its third consecutive winter of inactivity. The mountain resort operated 57 trails and six lifts across 200 square miles and 1800 vertical feet of skiable terrain until 2010 when it filed bankruptcy. Ascutney is the most recent addition to a growing list of closed ski areas across the state, and Vermonters are worried about the future of the sport — the Vermont ski industry peaked in 1966 and has been steadily declining ever since.
At its height, Vermont had a whopping 81 ski areas in service. Over the years, the number open in a single season has risen and fallen with fluctuating economic and weather conditions, with today less than 20 ski resorts and a select few Snow Bowls still running in Vermont. There are now 113 documented “lost ski areas” in Vermont, according to the New England Lost Ski Area Project (NELSAP).
Tropical temperatures last March cut the ski season short by nearly three weeks. Vermont ski areas suffered not only from a shorter season, but also from persistently poor conditions throughout the winter. Not a single large snowstorm hit the northeast last year, forcing ski areas to bring out the snow blowers or risk bankruptcy.
Mad River Glen in nearby Fayston, Vt. — a mountain committed to resisting modern snowmaking technology — suffered last year as a result of the limited snow accumulation. The ski area uses snow blowers and groomers only sparingly — even last year Mad River resisted the urge to expand snowmaking technology past the 15 percent of trails currently covered by snow guns. Open a mere 71 days last year, the mountain lost money. In order for the enterprise to be profitable, it would need to operate for at least 100 days.
The future of Mad River, and countless other Vermont ski areas, is in jeopardy if current climatic trends continue. Ski towns — dependent on the influx of skiers for business — are struggling as much as the mountains themselves. The lack of skiers in the Brownsville area due to the closure of Ascutney mountain resort in the last two winters has already caused several restaurants in Brownsville to close.
Vermonters remain convinced that the ski industry will remain a fixture in the Vermont landscape for economic and cultural reasons.
Despite the poor snow accumulation last winter, Vermont ski resorts suffered relatively less than ski resorts in other parts of the country; nationwide, resort visits were down 16 percent from the previous season while number of skiers hitting Vermont slopes in 2011-2012 dropped by just 11 percent.
“Skiing is an important part of our heritage and economy,” said Parker Riehle, president of the Vermont Ski Association.
“Skiing is more than just an iconic product, like maple syrup or cheese,” said Vermont native Amanda Kaminsky ’13. “It is an experience that epitomizes the value Vermonters place on the outdoors.”
The experience of many native Vermonters working in the ski industry, however, makes this optimism seem anachronistic. Okemo Ski Instructor Ellen Bevier ’16, of Rutland, Vt. knows at least a dozen Vermonters who have been laid off from ski areas since the recession hit. Snow sports are more than just a pastime for people like Bevier, whose father worked at a ski mountain for the entirety of her childhood.
Governor Peter Shumlin shares the optimistic attitude of many Vermonters despite recent trends. He remains convinced that the fact Mad River and countless other ski areas survived after such a rough year is a testament to the hardiness of Vermont’s ski industry.
“Our future looks bright,” said Shumlin in a televised speech last March at the Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum. “Our mountains continue to expand and become four season resorts. This grows jobs and economic opportunities for all of us.”
Long before the recession hit, small ski areas were already being lost due to trends toward modernization. Finding $40,000 for a new T-bar back in the day was one thing, but finding $250,000 for a new chair lift is often beyond the budget of small ski areas.
Fewer and fewer people, especially out-of-staters, were willing to go to tiny five-run ski areas without snow guns and high-speed chairs when bigger mountains — Okemo, Mount Snow, Stratton, Bromley and Killington, the five-mountain, five-lodge “Beast of the East” — were just around the corner.
“I don’t think I’ve experienced a single winter here without hearing doubts over whether Magic Mountain would survive another season,” said Vermont native Cheyanne Pugliese ’16, who prefers smaller mountains like Magic Mountain to behemoths like Killington.
Increasing costs of operation and rising skier expectations have forced small mom-and-pop businesses to adapt or perish.
Magic Mountain in Londonderry has managed to remain open through creative strategizing — they rely on community volunteers and conservative spending practices. Both Magic Mountain and Mad River Glen have turned to co-opting strategies to generate enough revenue to remain solvent.
In coming years, the main challenge for ski areas will be convincing skiers to hit the slopes when they don’t see any snow outside their windows. Ski areas are using online resources like Facebook and email alert systems to advertise snow on the slopes. Mountains are also asking skiers to adjust their expectations in the event of another winter like the 2011-12 season.
(10/03/12 10:29pm)
Along with the bike path tax, the Burlington City Council recently voted in favor of putting another new item on the ballot this November: a marijuana referendum. After hearing the public’s opinion at the polls, the city will determine whether or not to open up the state’s first two dispensaries nearby. Two years ago an identical proposal was defeated by city council vote.
Vermont has already passed several bills regarding medical marijuana. Back in 2004, the state established a mandatory, confidential marijuana registry with the authority to issue licenses to qualifying patients. That year Vermont also removed criminal penalties for individuals diagnosed with a “debilitating medical condition.” In 2007, a bill passed that expanded the definition of “debilitating medical condition” to include multiple sclerosis, AIDS, eating disorders and cancer.
Although medical marijuana has been legal in Vermont since 2004, until a city votes to open a dispensary, patients can only legally obtain marijuana if they have the means to grow it themselves. In June 2011, Governor Peter Shumlin signed a bill authorizing the creation of up to four dispensaries where registered patients can buy medicinal marijuana. A final vote in November will establish whether two dispensaries can set up near Burlington.
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, a former U.S. attorney, recently promised to move forward with carrying out his state’s medical marijuana program outlined back in a 2010 bill.
“I’m trying to implement the program in a responsible way, but I can’t force a town to give a certificate of occupancy to a tenant they don’t believe has met their standards in their town,” he said in response to the delayed opening of a dispensary in Montclair Township.
There are currently seven states total with impending legislation to legalize medical marijuana. Arkansas will be the first southern state to vote on medical marijuana this November.
While many east coast states are just introducing medical marijuana legislation, states out west are experiencing a dispensary crackdown. There has been a recent trend of federal police telling dispensaries to either move or close down due to being located too close to schools. Over 200 California dispensaries have been shut down since U.S. attorneys ordered a crackdown last October.
Similarly, in Colorado, the U.S. Attorney’s office has ordered over 47 businesses to shutter or else risk property seizure or even criminal charges. The Boulder, Co. area used to be home to around 80 dispensaries; now the number has dropped close to 20. Historically, whenever there has been any doubt as to whether a power should be delegated to the states or Congress, the courts have often been the entity to decide. In this case, the courts have decided to act in favor of the federal jurisdiction over states’ rights.
In spite of the federal dispensary crackdown in states with established medical marijuana programs and dispensaries, there is currently a rather streamlined process for obtaining a medical marijuana license. In Colorado, for example, it takes no more than 90 days for a patient to obtain his or her license, while several years ago the process was more tedious.
Lance Woody is a resident of Boulder, Co., who received his medical marijuana license following a car accident three years ago. After obtaining a doctor’s approval for his ailment in October 2009, he got his license in June 2010.
“Receiving a license doesn’t necessarily mean you can smoke,” clarifies Woody, “but [you] can attain lotions and hemp.”
There are quite a few misconceptions surrounding the issue of medical marijuana legalization. Many people are unaware of the discrepancy between “decriminalization” versus legalization of medical marijuana.
In states like Vermont and New Jersey, marijuana has been legalized only medically. This means the substance is strictly regulated according to a state registry of approved patients. In states where marijuana has been “decriminalized in small amounts,” if someone is caught with a small amount of marijuana (i.e. less than 1/8 oz.), they will not receive criminal penalties regardless of whether they are on the state registry for medicinal marijuana.
Currently marijuana for solely recreational purposes is not legal in any state. Colorado is one of the few states with both medicinal legalization and decriminalization in place.
Amy Scanes-Wolfe ’13, of Longmont, Co., grew up surrounded by dispensaries but believes that they offer “just one avenue to get something people would find a way to get one way or another.”
In Vermont, supporters of decriminalization argue that if the medical marijuana measure passes in November, it would reveal to the state how the war on drugs is costly and misguided. The law may encourage further legislation for decriminalization of marijuana in the state.
The main argument behind legalizing medical marijuana is that while painkillers and other medications are often addictive, one cannot become physiologically addicted to marijuana. In fact, individuals with eating disorders benefit from the appetite-inducing side effect of the substance.
“If you look at marijuana purely scientifically, it is much less harmful than alcohol or tobacco or many prescription drugs,” argues Barrett Smith ’13. “Yet, the federal government classifies it as a schedule one drug, claiming that it has a high addiction potential and has no legitimate medical uses. Looking at scientific literature, both claims are blatantly false.”
Smith, Middlebury’s recently elected Student Co-chair of Community Council, is an Ohio native. Though his home state has not yet legalized medicinal marijuana, through his travels he has encountered people of all ages who possess licenses to obtain and grow the substance. One friend’s grandmother even uses medicinal marijuana to alleviate her suffering from pancreatic cancer. For people like her, it is beneficial and offers better relief than opiate-based prescription drugs because it addresses pain in a non-addictive way and stimulates appetite.
Tony Huynh ’13, of the San Francisco Bay Area in California, also supports decriminalization nationwide.
“It’s sort of like decriminalizing abortion or lowering the drinking age because people will find a way to do it anyway,” said Huynh. “If you can regulate marijuana to make it come from reliable sources rather than drug cartels, you can ensure safety in the supply chain.”
Critics of medical marijuana legalization argue that the substance hinders productivity, leads to harder drug use, interferes with fertility, impairs driving ability and injures the lungs, immune system and brain. In August 2012, a study conducted in New Zealand by Duke University researchers (Meier et al) revealed that marijuana can negatively affect brain development. The study showed that IQ tests of individuals who began using the substance before age 18 dropped significantly later in life than IQ tests of non-users.
Other critics of medical marijuana legalization say it has sparked an underground marijuana culture in states that condone its use. Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley estimates there are approximately 1,000 illegally operated marijuana shops in the city alone.
There is also fear that decriminalization even of minute amounts of marijuana leads to more drug abuse overall. The experience in Norwalk, Ct. earlier this year gives creedence to such fears. Ever since Connecticut voted last year to decriminalize small amounts of recreational marijuana, the number of cases dealing with possession and use went through the roof.
Despite opposition, proponents of legalization remain convinced that stigma surrounding marijuana can be removed with legislation and time.
(09/19/12 11:17pm)
On Sept. 16, in Shoreham, Vt., 581 avid cyclists and foodies gathered for the 5th Annual Le Tour de Farms. Passionate about active lifestyles and local foods, it comes as no surprise that Vermonters host the popular "Tour de Farms" each year.
Le Tour de Farms is a cross between a farmer's market and a bike race. It involves farm-hopping via bike along Vermont's scenic roadways, while sampling locally-made cheddar cheese, maple syrup, apple cider, Cookie Love cookies and various fruits and veggies. Some of the farms also offer samples of dairy products and alcohol (wine at vineyard stops for those of age).
Le Tour de Farms was organized by the Addison County Relocalization Network (ACORN), Rural Vermont and the Vermont Bicycle & Pedestrian Coalition, the same three organizations that have successfully managed the event for the last five years. The event served as a fundraiser for these three organizations. The event received support from a variety of sponsors, including Earl's Cyclery & Fitness, City Market, Healthy Living, Cabot Creamery, Green Mountain Feeds, the Lodge at Otter Creek, Vermont Sun and the Addison County Regional Planning Commission.
A number of local farms and establishments, including the Middlebury Natural Foods Co-op, Windfall Orchards and Champlain Orchards generously offered samples of their produce this year. These additions served to enhance the already festive atmosphere of the event, offering an opportunity for community members to become better acquainted with local farms.
"It really is about the farms," said Lea Calderon-Guthe '11.5, manager of ACORN. "It's a really great opportunity for [the farms] to get some free press to get people familiar with them and their products without really having to do anything except put out some products."
Each year the event starts and ends at the same place, and offers a choice between three routes, all of which are loops. This year the home base was the Shoreham Town Green in Shoreham, Vt. The town's views of Lake Champlain and plethora of apple orchards make it an ideal location for the event, which helped attract even more participants than in previous years.
The ride is comparable to the Burrito Mile, the milk mile or the beer mile, similar events in which participants have a chance to indulge in massive quantities of delicious foods and beverages and then engage in vigorous exercise. In this case, participants in Le Tour de Farms were lucky enough to enjoy sumptuous Vermont produce and then burn off some extra calories.
However, what sets Le Tour de Farms apart from other races is its laidback, low-key vibe. It is a tour, not a race, so there are no prizes awarded for first place. Despite the 30-mile length option and the participation of seasoned triathletes, the emphasis of the event is on enjoying the atmosphere and having a chance to chat with friends and farmers.
People from all over New England and even Canada ventured to Shoreham last Sunday for Le Tour. It also attracted participants of all ages.
"What I found most amazing was the range in people who seemed to be attending," said participant Molly Hubbard '13. "It was clear that some of the participants were serious bikers, but it was also great to see people ranging from probably around age eight to at least 75 doing the bike ride as well."
Participants were offered a choice between a "family-friendly" five-mile walk/bike route, a more challenging ten-mile ride, a 15-mile route for intermediate-level bikers and a 30-mile route for "expert" bikers. Those brave enough to bike the longer routes enjoyed the added benefit of being able to sample more local food. The rides were just $28 for those who pre-registered or $50 at the door for adults and $13 when pre-registered and $20 at the door for children.
Most participants finished the race by noon, ending their journey with the "Apple Fest" on the Shoreham green, which featured live music, crafts and a farmers' market with even more local foods for sale from 12:30 to 5 p.m. All money raised at this après-bike event went to Shoreham's Platt Memorial Library.
Vermont biking is not for everyone – it is not all downhill pedaling. Some participants also had difficulty contending with the uneven Vermont roads. Jen Friedlander '13 reported that the "12 miles of gravel road [were] pretty frustrating." While food and fun were the central objectives, the exercise component, too, shaped the Le Tour de Farms experience.
"I will say that even though I am still sore it was probably one of my most memorable days I've had while at Middlebury," said Hubbard.