Kent Underwood - President and COW (Chief Operating Worker)
 

Kent is a fifth generation dairyman and has been involved at all levels of the industry. He is the glue that keeps VFCC together. Prior to joining us, Kent managed the operations, and the expansion (of both farm and brand) of rapidly growing dairies in Wisconsin and Vermont. (Even water buffalo!) He has a B.S. in Animal Science from University of Arizona. As our fearless leader, Kent has a hand in every task involved in the company.  Kent spends his days throughout our facilities. Whether it be milking the cows, spinning pizzas, helping in the creamery, or at a Farmer's Market, Kent will be there enthusiastically promoting VFCC!

 

 

Rick Woods – Vice President of Creamery Operations

Rick, as our Head Cheese Maker has been with VFCC since the beginning. He has twenty something years of being involved in all aspects of cheese production from cheese maker to plant manager, to developing regulatory compliance programs and educational cheese making classes for school groups. In his off time, he drinks craft beer and snacks on our Extra Aged Windsordale and Governor's Cheddar. Don't tell him we told you this, but he always cries over spilt milk and every single time the movie 'Rudy' comes on. 

 

 

 

Heidi Emanuel - Sales Manager

After over 30 years of varied careers ranging from banking to school programs coordinator to retail management, this art college drop-out landed her second favorite job ever (after Mom and "DeeDee") when she started working for VFCC in 2017. Heidi began with VFCC managing our former store and tasting room in Windsor. She grew into the role of Sales Manager where she still gets to talk and educate people about, and most importantly - EAT! - her favorite brand of cheese. In her spare time she can be found playing with her granddaughter, travelling, and seeking out the world's best tiki bars - often incognito.

 

 

 

Fred Wills - Cut/Wrap Operations Manager

Before joining Vermont Farmstead I spent a decade in the brewing industry working my way from the bottom up, as they say. I started out that career by volunteering at a craft brewery in Rhode Island, as one does when they have an English degree. I moved to the area for a job at Harpoon brewery expecting to gain a few years of experience and spend a lot of time outdoors, then probably check out another area. Instead- I met my wife there, we got married, bought a house and we had two kids to go along with our two dogs, three horses, and some-odd chickens. As the operations manager for Vermont Farmstead's cut/wrap I help us turn our 40 pound blocks of cheese into more manageable sizes for our customers to enjoy. I've even had the opportunity to put my English degree to use in the form of grant writing. Not exactly America's next great novel, but... words!

 

 

 

Elena Taylor - Manager of Multitasking 

Elena is back working for Vermont Farmstead after years away pursuing her own business ownership dreams and starting a family. Elena has always loved good food; talking about it, shopping for it, cooking it, and most importantly, eating it. It’s no surprise then, that nearly every career choice has involved some aspect of food and nutrition. 

She is excited to bring her business acumen and passion for good food to Vermont Farmstead. A self professed jack-of-all trades, she dives in where needed; sales, marketing, website updates, taste-tester, gopher... nothing is below this agile Mom of two.