Walking Tour - Downtown Burlington Downtown Burlington Vermonts awardwinning open air mall is a hub of activity

National Convention Tours

ed, nonprofit environmental education center, 1,400-acre working farm, and National Historic Landmark on the shores of Lake Champlain in Shelburne, Vermont. Our mission is to cultivate a conservation ethic for a sustainable future. Casual visitors may enjoy the walking trails, childrens farmyard, inn, restaurant, property tours and special events. To pursue our mission, we practice rural land uses that are environmentally, economically and culturally sustainable. Shelburne Farms was created as a mod-

tion. This cow is 3E and her offspring have all done well. She has bred back almost every year on the first breeding. The same goes for her daughters, coupled with her conformation, shes a great cow. Shell be 13 in May. Jonlee Louis Sawrey Jolly was a great foundation cow for them. They sold her into Canada where she did well on the show circuit. Fitzgerald Farms - July 5th - Farm Tour Operated by the Fitzgerald Family, they milk 20 Brown Swiss and 40 Holsteins and have 75 head of youngstock. Their farm has tiestall housing with evening pasture turnout during summer months. Originating in 1916, Fitzgerald Farm is a 4th generation dairy farm. They operate on 160 acres growing corn, hay and soybeans. Though always milking cows, it was not until the three boys, Brendan, Mike and Shawn, got into showing cows at the local fairs that the desire to have pedigreed animals came about. Pat and Carol (parents) then purchased two Brown Swiss at the National Convention when previously held in Vermont. One of these heifers produced, Fitzs Tangelo Precious. It was when this cow was first born that the whole familys passion for Brown Swiss blossomed. They have had Grand Champion at the Vermont State Swiss show in 2008, 2010, 2011 as well as Reserve Grand two of these 3 years. Jonlee AV Todrigg Kanta E93

where youll find historical architecture, year-round festivals, street entertainers, music, over 100 places to shop and dine, and even quiet places to ponder. We invite you find out about exclusive shopping, dining and events in downtown Burlington as well as to explore the area! Dinner Cruise - July 4th Lake Champlain is the largest freshwater lake in the U.S. after the five Great Lakes, and is one of Vermonts most sought after destinations. The best way to enjoy the lake is with a cruise aboard the 363 passenger Spirit of Ethan Allen III. Discover the regions rich history, as the Captains

el agricultural estate in 1886 by William Seward and Lila Vanderbilt Webb. In 1972, it became an educational nonprofit. Our nearly 400 acres of woodlands are Green Certified from the American Tree Farm System. Our grass-based dairy has 125 purebred, registered Brown Swiss cows. Their milk is transformed into our awardwinning farmhouse cheddar cheese here on the property. Butterwick Farm - July 5th - Farm Tour John and Lisa Roberts milk 176 cows, of which only 4 now are Holsteins. They are slightly down on numbers but should be back up to 190 by this fall. Cows are housed in a freestall barn when the most recent addition was in 1998. They milk in a Westfalia double 4 side opening parlor. John grew up in England, in a big city and therefore a non-farm family, but became interested in farming at a young age because of where his family used to go on vacation. While at college studying agriculture he thought it would be interesting to come and work one summer on an American farm. He ended up at Shelburne Farms in the summer of 1972 and really enjoyed working with the Brown Swiss. He also met Lisa there. After graduating from university in 1974, he came back to Shelburne Farms, married Lisa and worked on the farm until the spring of 1977, when they decided to get their own farm. They took over this farm in the summer of 1977, initially renting and then buying it in 1980. The farm originally was 260 acres. In 1984, they purchased a further 150 acres. They started with 32 grade Holsteins and 6 Swiss cows they brought down from Shelburne Farms. Roberts feed their cows on a high forage ration, trying to aim for efficient production. 2011 was one of the worst cropping years ever with too much rain, which resulted in poorer quality feed than they like. Jonlee Discover Crag Dee is just about to start her 10th lacta-

narration unfolds tales of Indian lore, the Revolutionary War, and Ethan Allen himself. Explore the depths of the shoreline as the ship cruises alongside the lakes unique geographic formations. Savor the majestic beauty of the Adirondack and Green Mountain ranges that surround the lake. Bring your cameras--the largest recorded mass sighting of Champ, our elusive lake monster,

94MS was 8th 5-Year-Old at the Central National 2008. Another farm favorite is Fitzs Tangelo Precious E93 95MS. Shelburne Museum - July 5th - Museum Tour Located in Vermonts scenic Lake Champlain Valley, Shelburne Museum is one of the finest, most diverse, and unconventional museums of art and Americana. Over 150,000 works are exhibited in a remarkable setting of 39 exhibition buildings, 25 of which are historic and were relocated to the Museum grounds. Impressionist paintings, folk art, quilts and textiles, decorative arts, furniture, American paintings, and a dazzling array of 17th-to 20th-century artifacts are on view. Shelburne is home to the finest museum collections of 19th-century American folk art, quilts, 19th- and 20th-century decoys, and carriages. Electra Havemeyer Webb (1888-1960) was a pioneering collector of American folk art and founded Shelburne Museum in 1947. The daughter of H.O. and Louisine Havemeyer, important collectors of EuroContinued on Page 12 11

was aboard the Spirit of Ethan Allen I. Dinner is a Captains Platter and the boat will be cruising up Lake Champlain and anchor in Shelburne Harbor for dinner. On the banks of Shelburne lawns, the Vermont Symphony Orchestra will be playing. On the way back to port, fireworks will be seen over the lake. Shelburne Farms - July 5th - Farm Tour Shelburne Farms is a membership-supportMay 2012

Tours Continued from Page 11 pean and Asian art, she exercised an independent eye and passion for art, artifacts, and architecture celebrating a distinctly American aesthetic. When creating the Museum she took the imaginative step of collecting 18th- and

tivities, and special exhibitions constantly offer new perspectives on four centuries of art and material culture, assuring visitors a

improved the Bear Hospital, and added more visuals to enhance the tour experience. Lake Champlain Chocolates July 5th - Youth Tour To the ancient Mayans it was the nectar of the gods. Europeans revered it as a symbol of wealth and power. African cultures believed it an aphrodisiac. One of the world's greatest expressions of taste and rapture, chocolate is enjoyed by millions, yet few have successfully combined the oldest traditions of confection-making with the purest natural ingredients. At Lake Champlain Chocolates, our goal is to create something extraordinary. Vermont ingredients, such as maple syrup, honey, cream and butter, have always played a role in our chocolates, as we combine the best traditions of chocolate making with new flavors and techniques. Crafted in small

museum experience unlike any other. The Vermont Teddy Bear Factory July 5th - Youth Tour Conveniently located in the Green Mountains, about 8 miles South of Burlington and just South of the Shelburne Museum, the Vermont Teddy Bear Co. factory creates an array of bears destined to make visitors of all ages smile. An energetic team of Bear Ambassadors leads tours through the bears birthplace. On the fun, clever, and educational tour, groups learn how teddy bears are put together from start to finish as they see the creative process in action. In addition, the tour guide explains Modular Manufacturing, discusses the evolution of Vermont Teddy Bear company, and highlights the Beargram service. I loved getting to see how the bears are made, the whole process, and actually watching people at work, exclaimed Debbie D. of Prince Edward Island. The company has recently updated the tour route with additional sewing modules,

19th-century buildings from New England and New York in which to display the Museums holdings, relocating 20 historic structures to Shelburne. These include houses, barns, a meeting house, a one-room schoolhouse, a lighthouse, a jail, a general store, a covered bridge, and the 220-foot steamboat Ticonderoga. Mrs. Webb sought to create an educational project, varied and alive. What visitors experience at Shelburne is unique: remarkable collections exhibited in a village-like setting of historic New England architecture, accented by a landscape that includes over 400 lilacs, a circular formal garden, herb and heirloom vegetable gardens, and perennial gardens. The Museums collections, educational programs, special events, workshops, ac-

batches, the ingredients in our chocolates have always been fresh and natural and the results will astound you. Perhaps thats why The New York Times reveres it as some of the best chocolate in the country.