Scott Belanger: Today is the best day of my life, thank you! I have been on and around farms for as long as I can remember. When I was young, my dad built some of the largest dairy barns in New England. My first memory of he and I is at the age of 2, and we are at the top of a massive barn pounding nails. I guess dariy got in my blood at an early age. People joke about all the many and varied things I do from restoring VWs, to hanging fabric sculptures, to being a licensed nurse practitioner, and pretty much everything you can imagine in between. I always laugh and tell them, “it’s all for the goats” which is the absolute truth. I get a good nights sleep when I know the ‘girls’ are happy and healthy, their living and grazing areas are secure and prepared, the cheese we make is good and good for you, every person that came to the market that day got a ‘hello’ and a smile because they deserve it, and ‘team cheese’ is ready to go at it all again tomorrow. To make all that happen every day on the farm takes everything I have ever learned from all the things I’ve ever done, “it’s all for the goats.” If I ever had time to write all the stories down in a book that would be the title. When I do get a moment here and there I like brew beer, make stained glass, canoe, camp, ski, and anything else that strikes me in the moment.
Jennifer Maeverde: I come from a long line of farmers on both sides of my family, and as has happened in many families my parents and their parents before them chose to leave the farm behind. Farming was not something that was ever on my radar as a career or a lifestyle. So, to find myself owning and operating a dairy goat farm and cheese making business is a bit of a shock some mornings, albeit a pleasant shock most of the time. Now that farming has chosen me, I only hope to live up to the standards set by my great grandmothers and great grandfathers. My real joy on the farm are the hordes of goat kids that arrive every spring with the first robins and the melting snow. They are the most beautiful things I have ever seen, and to be with their moms when they are born is a real privelige. I get the same kind of satisfaction when a child at the market tries our cheese and is immediately hooked. I love having my under 10 ‘regulars’ every week tell me about school or their sports teams while they’re picking up a cheese for snack at school the next day. When I’m not busy on the farm or at market I like to weave, and garden, cook and swing in the hammock.
Dave Levasseur (aka: Davio) I have been a life-long friend of Scott and Jen’s. I grew up in Old Town and have always loved working outdoors. I moved to the farm four years ago and became an integral part of “Team Cheese.” I’m the goat-to guy at the farm and my duties include maintenance, goat herd management, fence repair, rotational grazing, market attendance, fire-wood and snow-plowing in the winter. Occasionally you can find me in the cheeseplant. These are only a few of my daily tasks on the farm. I also enjoy puns and a good IPA, so when you stop by, be sure to bring me one.
Arlene Brokaw: I moved to Maine from Ohio in 2009 to start my first year as an apprentice. 2011 will be my third season at Olde Oak Farm where I have grown into the role of Head Cheese Maker. I was also accepted for MOFGA’s Journey Person program this year. I am responsible for scheduling and managing all of Olde Oak’s cheese production. My other team responsibilities include co-educating new apprentices, sharing in goat herd management responsibilities and market attendance. I also work closely with Dave as I have a talent for breaking things that he must fix. I would like to own and operate my own goat dairy and creamery in the future.
