Board Leadership
At its January 7 meeting, the CVFC Board of Directors voted to adopt a Co-Chair leadership model and elected Brian Kemp and Tim Kayhart as Co-Chairs of the Board. This shared leadership structure allows the Co-Chairs to jointly oversee board governance, support the Executive Director, and help balance leadership responsibilities which will strengthen continuity for this volunteer board.
Brian Kemp will serve as the primary public-facing Co-Chair and point of contact for external partners on behalf of the Board’s Co-Chairs.
Executive Director
Effective January 1, 2026, Kate Longfield has assumed the permanent role of Executive Director. Kate has led CVFC’s Water Quality Program since September 2022, providing technical assistance to farmers to implement and expand conservation practices and navigate state and federal conservation programs. She has emerged as a trusted and effective leader who will guide our operations and programs, strengthen partnerships, and ensure our water-quality mission remains central to all our work.
Kate oversees all organizational operations, programs, and partnerships. She manages grants, organizational outreach, membership engagement, and fundraising initiatives. She collaborates closely with the Board of Directors on governance and strategic direction.
Kate continues to lead the organization’s Water Quality Program, a role she has held since September 2022. She provides technical assistance to farmers to implement and expand conservation practices, and supports farmers in navigating conservation and business viability cost-share programs. Kate collaborates with partners to plan and facilitate farmer roundtables and in-field workshops on soil health, water quality, conservation equipment, and climate resilience.
Kate holds a Master of Science in Natural Resources from the University of Vermont’s Rubenstein School. Her graduate research examined Vermont farmers’ trust in state and federal agricultural agencies, participation in conservation programs, and adoption of practices. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies from the University of Vermont, with a focus on environmental policy.
