Fairmont Farm & Market
Farming For Future Generations
OUR STORY
3rd Generation Family-Owned Business
There is now a 4th generation of future farmers growing up on the farm!
Fairmont is dedicated to a sustainable future for the farm and future generations, this means animal health, environmental stewardship and community involvement have been, and will remain, top priorities. Fairmont has been recognized as a “Dairy of Distinction” by the Agency of Agriculture since 2000 and was awarded “Vermont Dairy Farm of the Year” in 2017.
ABOUT FAIRMONT FARM
In 1992 Fairmont Farm was formed when three small and local family dairy farms came together to become one. This merger was a way to transition two farms with older generations into retirement while simultaneously creating opportunity for the third farm which was owned by the young farmers, Richard and Bonnie Hall. Fairmont is proud of the work they have been able to do to successfully retire the older generations, as well as bring on younger generations.
Today, Fairmont is a 3rd generation family owned dairy farm with owners, Richard and Bonnie Hall, Tucker Purchase, Clara Ayer and Ricky Hall. Fairmont has seen a lot of growth over the years and has expanded from the original East Montpelier location, to two East Montpelier farms and a farm in Craftsbury, Vermont. Fairmont currently employs 35 full time employees.
We are also very proud to have launched the Fairmont Market in 2020! We are now offering Local Beef, Pork, and Lamb for sale at our East Montpelier location. You can easily order from our online store and choose a pickup time at your convenience.
OUR FAMILIES
Richard & Bonnie Hall
Richard and Bonnie both graduated in 1986, Richard from SUNY Cobleskill with an Agricultural Science degree and Bonnie from Saint Michael’s College with a degree in Elementary Education. They were married and began farming on their own the following year.
In 1992 their farming operation became part of the newly formed Fairmont Farm Inc. Richard and Bonnie proudly welcomed their oldest daughter, Clara, and their son, Ricky, to the ownership team in 2019. Their youngest, Isabel, is currently working for Poulin Grain and living in Charleton, NY.
Richard and Bonnie are enjoying watching the 4th generation grow up on the farm, they now have five grand children.
Tucker & Melissa Purchase
After high school Tucker attended SUNY Morrisville and received an associate’s degree in Agricultural Science in 1999. He then transferred to Cornell University to study dairy science, which led to a Bachelors degree in Animal Science in 2001.
After graduation Tucker moved to California and managed a large dairy in Bakersfield. In May 2002 he returned home to Vermont and became the herd manager at Fairmont Farm, Inc. In 2005 he became a partner at Fairmont Farm. In 2012 Tucker married Melissa.
Their first daughter, Ella, was born in December of 2013. Tucker, Melissa and Ella welcomed a new baby, Sophie, to the family in November of 2016.
Clara & Dana Ayer
Clara graduated from Cornell in 2010 and started working at Yankee Farm Credit. Clara was married to Dana Ayer in 2013 at the farm. In 2014, Clara excitedly began working at the farm. She brought a passion for community outreach and public relations as well as her background in finance and accounting. Her and Dana welcomed their son, Carson, in 2016 and their twin girls, Evelyn and Lorraine, in 2019.
While at the farm, Clara has dedicated much of her time to being involved in the industry, including holding Secretary positions for the AgriMark YC program as well as the Vermont Holstein Association. She is involved with Dairy Promotion on the county level, state level, and regional level, as well as being involved legislatively with Vermont Dairy Producers Alliance.
Clara was recognized for her efforts and involvement by being the first Emerging Leader inducted into the Vermont Agriculture Hall of Farm in 2018.
Ricky & Elizabeth Hall
Ricky graduated from Cornell in 2012 and began working at Holstein Association as a Classifier. Ricky brought his excitement of the Holstein Breed back to the farm in 2014.
He married, Elizabeth Olson, in 2016. The two of them coach the VT 4-H Dairy Judging Team as well as being very active in the VT Holstein Association and serving on the New England Holstein Show Committee.
They welcomed their son Theodore in 2018, their daughter Hazel in 2020 and their second daughter Ruby in 2023.
