6/3 Doug Flack: Winner of the 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award in the Vermont Agricultural Hall of Fame
The Lifetime Achievement Award in the Vermont Agricultural Hall of Fame recognizes those who have made a significant contribution to the advancement, improvement, or development of Vermont agriculture for at least 30 years. Humbly speaking, Doug Flack blows this requirement out of the water.
Doug has been a pioneering force in Vermont's organic farming community for nearly 50 years, leaving a profound and lasting impact on generations of farmers and consumers alike. As the long-term steward of Flack Family Farm, he helped advance livestock genetics through the breeding of American Devon cattle and A2A2 dairy cows, making valuable traits more accessible throughout Vermont. Doug made use of the biodynamic calendar for scheduling the planting and harvesting times of the many tons of vegetables used in his fermented products. He has been a mentor and educator. Doug’s apprenticeship program launched many farming careers, while his decades-long community sauerkraut and kimchi production days fostered deep connections between farmers, food, and local communities.
Beyond the farm, Doug served for more than a decade on the Rural Vermont board, championing policies that strengthened opportunities for small-scale farmers and contributing to landmark legislative changes including the legalization of on-farm slaughter and raw milk sales. Through his leadership, innovation, and commitment to community, he has helped shape Vermont agriculture and inspired farmers across the state.
We are proud to have Doug as a Rural Vermont Emeritus Board member, and to see his many contributions to Vermont agriculture honored and remembered for generations to come. Thank you Doug for all the heart and wisdom you’ve passed along over the years, and for your many contributions to making Vermont a better place to eat and farm!
Doug, photographed with his daughter, Sarah, at Rural Vermont’s 40th Anniversary celebration in Fairfield, June 2025.