Our Team

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At New Village Farm, our greatest strength is our people. We are a passionate team of farmers, educators, and community builders who share a commitment to sustainable agriculture, hands-on learning, and connecting people with the land.

Our team brings together decades of experience in both agriculture and education. From designing engaging educational programs for all ages to tending our pastures and caring for our livestock, each member plays a vital role in making the farm a thriving, vibrant place.

We believe that farming is more than just production; it’s an opportunity to teach, inspire, and foster curiosity about the natural world. Our team members bring both hands-on agricultural skills and educational experience to their work, collaborating to ensure that every student, visitor, and community member leaves with a deeper understanding of where their food comes from and a stronger connection to the land.

At New Village Farm, our team is united by a shared vision: cultivating not just healthy crops and livestock, but also knowledge, skills, and a love for sustainable living that grows with every generation.

Michaela Ryan- Owner and Founder

Michaela Ryan is the farm’s founder and current CEO. Her focus is making farming accessible to families, more ecologically integrated, community-centric activity. She grew up on a small sheep farm in southern Quebec, and found her farm experiences to be the richest and most formative experiences of her life.

Her farming career is informed by experiences as an Environmental Engineer, an at home mom, and a Grief Recovery Specialist; as well as studies in Biodynamic Farming, Biodynamic Cranial Sacral Therapy and Qi Gong. Eighteen years into this rich and fulfilling adventure, she has only scratched the surface of what she’d like to create. She’s excited use the next eighteen years to innovate ways to make farming better for the soil, plants and animals, more nourishing for its participants, and more sustainable for the planet.

Saylor Whitaker- Director of Programming

Since joining New Village Farm in 2022, Saylor has stepped into nearly every rhythm of farm life. She began as a substitute instructor, became a Farm School educator, later jumped in as a livestock intern, and then as a camp counselor. Now, as Director of Programming, she brings the full breadth of those experiences to every program she helps shape.

Rooted in her studies in the Environment and Agroecology, Saylor is deeply committed to sustainable agriculture and community-centered learning. Her professional experience spans both place-based education and production farming, grounding her in her current role. She is especially passionate about helping children discover their own capacities through meaningful work, imaginative exploration, and connection with the natural world.

If you visit New Village Farm, there’s a good chance you’ll spot her leading a cheerful gaggle of children, haltering goats, and sharing the animals’ abundant (and occasionally impish) wisdom.

Elise Simone- Livestock Manager

Elise joined New Village in the summer of 2022 as an educator, though quickly found their way to the livestock manager role. They grew up in Vermont and spent many years in production vegetable farming across the state before stumbling upon a deep draw towards animal husbandry. On the farm, Elise strives to find a balance of the agency required for the wellbeing of livestock, while recognizing the inherent uncontrollable nature of the living world. They studied Food Systems and Soil Science at UVM and expect to remain a student of agriculture indefinitely.

Educators & Farmers

Stella Gitchos

Stella grew up playing in the dirt on a small farm in Washington state and has always loved being with animals and plants. In addition to New Village, they study education and will be a licensed secondary teacher in May 2026, which makes farming with kids the best of both worlds. When off the farm, they enjoy cooking and sharing food with people they love, making art, writing poetry, and playing outside.

Emma Dolan

Emma first began working as a nature-based educator with Mass Audubon in 2019 and has been involved in outdoor education from then on! Emma moved to Vermont in 2022 to study parks and recreation and placed-based education at UVM and has lived here ever since. When Emma discovered the world of farm education, she was so excited to be able to combine her passion and experience in education and farming. As an educator at New Village, Emma loves sharing her knowledge and curiosity with students of all ages, and introducing them to all of our wonderful animals!

Izzy Wright

Izzy believes that the best learning doesn’t come from sitting behind a desk in a classroom, but instead from hands-on experiences. Growing up in North Carolina, she spent most of her time riding horses and working at the barn. Time spent at the barn taught her valuable life skills, such as the kindness, empathy, and patience required when caring for other living beings, and she is thrilled that New Village Farm is an environment where she can work with kids to foster these same beliefs. Izzy graduated from UVM in 2025, where she earned degrees in Environmental Studies, Agroecology, and Place-Based Education.

Josie Newberry

Josie has been with New Village Farm since they were 5 years. From camper to CIT to counselor Josie loves teaching and learning along the way. She became an official employee in 2020 after several years of volunteering. In the summer Josie is the counselor of crew camp, crew teaches older campers about farm life and teamwork. During the rest of the year Josie milks the cows and cares for the animals. Josie loves learning crew campers personality’s to become a better mentor and friend to them.