09/04/2026
Congratulations to University of Vermont Extension faculty members Ann Hazelrigg and Heather Darby, who were inducted this week into the Vermont Agricultural Hall of Fame!
The Hall of Fame honored Extension Agronomic and Soils Specialist Heather Darby as the 2026 Ag Innovator. During the induction luncheon at the Champlain Valley Expo on Wednesday, she said innovating often means seeing an approach others don't believe is possible.
"We don't see barriers," Darby said. "It's more of a challenge to prove someone wrong, to do the impossible, to do what the one person said couldn't be done, and that's what drives you — or me — all the time. It's exciting and fun."
She thanked her family, people from her home community in Alburgh who inspired her, the farmers she partners with on her work, and the Vermont House Committee on Agriculture, Food Resiliency, and Forestry for nominating her.
The second 2026 Hall of Fame inductee from UVM Extension, Ann Hazelrigg, received the honor of Lifetime Achievement. Colleague Deb Heleba accepted the award on Hazelrigg's behalf -- because Hazelrigg just retired from her roles overseeing UVM's Plant Diagnostic Clinic and the Extension Master Gardener, Integrated Pest Management and Pesticide Safety Education programs.
"She's celebrating her second day of retirement with her family abroad," Heleba told the luncheon attendees. "After more than 40 years of extraordinary service to UVM Extension and the people of Vermont, I think we can all agree that she has earned a little vacation."
Reflecting on her legacy of using knowledge to help people and an "infectious" sense of wonder, Heleba said Hazelrigg "set a standard for what it means to serve Vermont with integrity, humility, generosity and heart."
After the luncheon, the 2026 inductees had their portraits made, which will go up on the Vermont Agricultural Hall of Fame wall next year. More than 120 people have received this honor, including the Across the Fence team in 2025.
Photos by Elodie Reed.
