Hi! My name is Ben Vandel, I use he/him pronouns, and I’m from Salt Lake City, Utah. I’m a Junior at UVM, currently studying Agroecology and Landscape Design. I have absolutely fallen in love with Vermont and the agricultural community here, and cannot wait to explore it more through this program. I was drawn to the ALC fellowship because of my passion for agroecology and community-based experiences, both of which I hope to integrate more into my life. I am always searching to engage in more hands-on field work, and cannot wait to improve my skills through participatory action research with a wonderful group of my peers!

“Make your interactions with people transformational, not just transactional.”
-Patti Smith