Sam Burr, of Bristol; Lizah Makombore (pictured), of Burlington; and Arwen Turner, of Wallingford, have been elected to the Vermont Land Trust Board of Trustees.
Burr, an attorney, former state representative and owner of Last Resort Farm in Monkton, brings diverse agricultural experience to VLT. Since the late 1970s, he has lived and farmed in Vermont — living on a livestock/goat dairy and then later managing a cow dairy before transitioning to diversified farming in the 1980s.
Makombore, an expert in financial and risk management and a doctoral student and graduate research assistant at the University of Vermont, brings over a decade of experience across NGOs, development agencies, public finance institutions and academia. Guided by the Southern African philosophy of Ubuntu — “I am because we are” — her work centers on community-driven practice, sustainability and collective well-being.
Turner, executive director at Come Alive Outside and co-founder of the outdoor apparel company Thicket Adventure, is a passionate advocate for outdoor equity and inclusion. He brings to the board more than 20 years' experience in nonprofit leadership and fund development, having led initiatives across the U.S. and abroad.
“Sam, Lizah and Arwen bring invaluable insights into how conservation intersects with farming, recreation and community well-being,” said Tracy Zschau, VLT's president and CEO. “We’re incredibly grateful for their commitment to our mission.”