On Sunday March 8th we’re holding an International Women’s Day event in the taproom, hosted by our Women and Non-Binary Association at Lawson’s Finest. Join us for great conversation – from seed to table – with trailblazing women in agriculture. We’ll also celebrate the release of Powerhouse Pale Ale, which has a portion of the proceeds benefitting the Vermont Women’s Fund.

This event requires the reservation of a free ticket, available here.

Join us in welcoming our guest speakers and panelists, and learn more about them below:

Adeline Druart (Moderator), CEO, Lawson’s Finest Liquids:

Emily Bush (Guest Speaker), Director, Vermont Women’s Fund:

Emily is the Director of the Vermont Women’s Fund. She has over 17 years of experience working in development with a focus on creating opportunities for women and girls. She has expertise in leadership and fundraising and has worked with many nonprofit organizations including The Clinton Foundation, Girls Who Code, AI4All and Moms First.  

Allison Hooper (Guest Speaker), Co-Founder, Vermont Creamery:

Allison Hooper co-founded Vermont Creamery in 1984, bringing European-style cheeses and cultured butters to American consumers. A pioneer in artisanal cheesemaking, she earned national recognition, including induction into the James Beard Foundation’s Who’s Who. She also helped establish Ayers Brook Goat Dairy, advancing goat farming and agricultural innovation in Vermont.

Trishia Gasseling (Panelist), Co-Owner, Gasseling Ranches:

Trishia Gasseling is a dedicated wife and mother of three who works side-by-side with her husband on their family’s fourth-generation hop farm at Gasseling Ranches. With deep roots in agriculture and a passion for community leadership, she has served on the Hop Growers of America board for seven years, advocating for growers and advancing the industry. Her work is driven by a commitment to her family, farm, and the future of hop production. 

Amber Arnold (Panelist), Exec. Director and Co-Founder, SUSU CommUNITY Farm:

Amber Arnold is the Executive Director and Co Founder of SUSU commUNITY Farm, an Afroindigenous farm and healing sanctuary rooted in land and food sovereignty. Amber’s work focuses on cultivating spaces of belonging, nervous system regulation, and culturally rooted healing through land based practices, ritual, and community education. 

Cara Tobin (Panelist), Co-Owner and Exec. Chef, Honey Road:

Chef Cara began cooking at 17, trained in Monterey, and worked at prominent California restaurants before joining Oleana in Cambridge, becoming Chef de Cuisine in 2012. She later co-founded Honey Road and The Grey Jay in Vermont, earning James Beard recognitions while supporting community causes and co-running a mushroom farm.

Nina Lesser-Goldsmith (Panelist), Co-Owner and COO, Healthy Living:

Nina Lesser-Goldsmith is Co-Owner and COO of Healthy Living, a family-run natural foods market founded by her mother in 1986. A native Vermonter with culinary training, she leads with a passion for high-quality food, operational excellence, and community impact as Healthy Living enters its 40th year.