Food Connects is fortunate to have corporate sponsors throughout the region. And one area we are looking to expand our Farm to School (FTS) work in the future, the Deerfield Valley of Vermont, has a Farm to School champion right in their backyard.

Scott’s Clean Sweep is a full-service Vermont Chimney Sweep company based in West Dover, VT. Servicing the Deerfield Valley since 1997, owner Sarah Shippee has gotten to know her community deeply. Her steadfast commitment to improving life in the Deerfield Valley is apparent, and we are excited to step into a new chapter of philanthropy with her.

Sarah shared with us a few thoughts on the importance of Farm to School and giving back to her community.

Why is giving back to your community important to you?

Sarah Shippee (SS): As local business owners, my husband, Roscoe, and I believe strongly that we have a responsibility to give back to the community, without whom our business would not exist. It makes us very grateful to have the opportunity to say “thank you.”

What first interested you in the FTS movement?

SS: My interest was sparked by the opportunity to support Jr. Iron Chef in the Deerfield Valley. I know firsthand what an impact that program has had on our middle- and high-school students—my son participated for several years. I saw it broaden his 'food horizons' and those of many of his classmates, as well as teach teamwork and planning.

*Photo from 2020 Twin Valley Jr. Iron Chef.*

Why did you decide to support the FTS program at Food Connects?

SS: Food Connects is important, I think, because our children need to have the chance to learn about food and explore things they might not see at home. We are moving away from the time when everyone had a garden out back, and children could see where their food came from. Food Connects helps re-establish that relationship, and I believe that that is a big part of making good choices about what we put in our bodies.

I hope to be able to support Food Connects with this and other programs in the years to come.