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Randolph center advances plan for associate degree in agriculture, food and forests tied to 1787 Butchery and EDA grant
Summary
The Randolph-based Center for Agriculture and Food Entrepreneurship presented plans for a two-year associate degree that leverages a new meat-processing teaching facility, an Economic Development Authority grant, and partnerships with industry. Leaders proposed a funnel model of broad exposure followed by focused, credit-bearing internships.
Lehi Evans, associate director of the Center for Agriculture and Food Entrepreneurship at Vermont State University’s Randolph campus, presented a status update on a proposed associate degree in agriculture, food and forests at a trustees committee meeting on May 12.
Evans said the center was formed with a three-year Economic Development Authority (EDA) grant and that the grant’s deliverables include launching an accredited workforce-oriented associate degree. He said the program would leverage newly completed facilities, including a university meat-processing teaching facility (referred to in the presentation as the 1787 Butchery), 250 acres of campus and partner-managed land, a sawmill, orchard and greenhouse resources.
Evans described a “funnel” model in which a two-year curriculum begins with broad exposure to ag, food and forestry careers and skills, then allows students to identify one or more specific focus areas (e.g., butchery, forestry, veg/fruit production, dairy) and complete second-year, credit-bearing internships and higher-level coursework. The program would also include business and entrepreneurship coursework and stackable credentials so students can exit with certificates if they do not complete a full associate degree.
Evans cited industry support from the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, regional manufacturers and producers, and partnerships with private farms for on-site operations; he said the grant’s funding runs through August 2026, which requires the program to be market-ready for fall 2026 enrollment planning. He reported enrollment projections: an initial target of 25 students per year with a 70 percent retention assumption leading to an ongoing enrollment of roughly 35 students.
Trustees and college leaders discussed alternatives such as launching certificates first to meet the grant deadline more quickly, financial partnerships to reduce program operating costs, and the need for aggressive, regional recruitment given earlier efforts that paused some ag/forestry programs during consolidation. Evans said the new model relies heavily on third-party partnerships to reduce on-campus operating costs compared with earlier models (for example, prior campus-run dairies) and that the new approach reduces the enrollment threshold required for financial viability.
Ending: The chancellor and provost asked administrators to coordinate timeline details for formal board approval; trustees asked for a follow-up with a clear approval timeline since the grant funding requires program delivery planning before August 2026.
