Silene DeCiucies

Tell us a bit about your background and how it helped shape the expertise you bring to CAE.

Silene’s educational background is in crop and soil science, but she fell in love with farm work early in her adult life working on livestock, dairy, vegetable farms , and orchards in Washington State, Western New York, and Vermont. Through her work on farms and her work with farmers she has become passionate about preserving the small hill farms in Vermont and believes in their positive impact on our landscape, our communities, our economy, and our connection with our food. Silene quickly came to realize that economics are the real driver of farm success and farm longevity and aims to strengthen agricultural businesses through her work so that they can thrive for generations to come. Silene also co-manages a dairy farm in Walden, Vermont and uses this experience to make her a better business planner and vice versa!

What excites you about your work and/or the work of CAE?

That we support agricultural businesses and rural communities through so many avenues.

What brings you joy? (work or otherwise)

Being outside, growing things, working with animals, making things with my hands.

What brings you hope? (work or otherwise)

That so many people still care where their food comes from, about keeping agricultural land working, and about supporting their local farmers and community members.