Our Board

Board of Trustees

Chair

Brian Athearn is the owner of MV Tech Inc. He also runs Runamok Farm with his family. He is passionate about local agriculture and making a contribution to the community.

Vice-Chair

Julie Scott and her family run Slough Farm in Katama. She has a passion for sharing agriculture with others, turning people into farmers, making life easier for farmers, raising happier healthier animals, eating good food, community building and of course, dancing.

Garrison Vieira grew up in West Tisbury and has been involved with the the running of the Fair and law enforcement since the age of 12 when he got his first Fair Job as a Security Kid. He’s now an integral part in making the Fair function and a Sergeant for the West Tisbury Police, where he has worked for over 17 years. He is an avid beekeeper and is always helping others with their apiary interests. His homestead is ever expanding with goats, chickens, and a large vegetable garden.

Treasurer

Robert Egerton serves on the board of the Sheriff’s Meadow Foundation, where he chairs the Agriculture Committee, as well as the boards of Martha’s Vineyard Community Services and the American Farmland Trust in Washington. He worked for the Farm Credit System for 39 years, providing loans and financial services to farmers and agricultural cooperatives.

Secretary

Robert McCarron is a real estate attorney and lifelong Vineyard resident and is interested in fostering a sustainable balance of land use, which promotes agriculture, open space and affordable housing on the island. He is married to Petra; they have a daughter, Sophia. Rob previously served on the board of Sheriff’s Meadow Foundation.

Emily Armstrong has done food systems education and worked on farms since 2008; she brings a deep love of the Island’s agricultural heritage to the board of the Agricultural Society. Together with her husband, Taz, and son, Theo, she grows a large vegetable garden and raises most of her own meat. Emily, who has a degree in history from Fordham University, founded the preschool program for Island Grown Schools in 2012. Emily love breed-specific wool and knitting.

Dan Athearn is an integral part of Morning Glory Farm, his family’s farm based in Edgartown, where he helps run the farm with his wife and children, parents, siblings and all their families. Dan has a degree in aquaculture and loves to spend time on the water when not in the fields. Though Dan is a recent addition to the Board of Trustees, he has deep roots in the Island and the Society.

Joe Capece moved to Martha’s Vineyard in the spring of 1999 after pursuing a BS degree in Wildlife Conservation & Management from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. After years working for the Trustees, for the past almost 20 years Joe has been involved in construction on Martha’s Vineyard. He has owned his own construction company for close to 15 years now, using his environmental background to build greener homes on our ever-developing island. He is an avid bow-hunter and home butcher and has an undying passion for small-scale agriculture, nature, and the outdoors.

Meredith Danberg-Ficarelli is the Co-Founder and CEO of WATS, a climate tech startup decarbonizing commercial buildings with waste operations software. Meredith is a TRUE Zero Waste Advisor, sits on the Board of Directors of the US Composting Council, and was recognized with the 2019 Recycling Leadership award by the New York State Association of Reduction, Reuse, and Recycling. Meredith holds a BA in Anthropology from the University of Virginia, and a MS in Urban Policy and Sustainability Analysis from the New School, plays ice hockey, and loves sandwiches. 

Ruby Dix was born and raised on North Tabor Farm in Chilmark. She has been managing her family farm since graduating from Bennington College in 2021 with a degree in Food Studies and a concentration in food equity and community organizing. Ruby is an active member of the young agricultural community on Martha's Vineyard. She has a passion for spoiling her 300-pound pet pig named Crouton and for connecting with her community through growing good food and throwing pizza parties.  

Alysa Emden is an attorney specializing in the taxation of nonprofit organizations. Retired from active practice, she currently serves on the boards of several Island nonprofits, including Misty Meadows Equine Learning Center and Martha’s Vineyard Garden Club, and is a long-time volunteer with Island Grown Initiative, BiodiversityWorks, and the Society. She lives with her husband, two daughters and three basset hounds in Chilmark and Sarasota.

Fred Fisher III owns Nip’N’Tuck Farm in West Tisbury where he raises a variety of animals and hay as his father did before him. He always makes sure to time a batch of piglets to bring for the Animal Barn at Fair Time. Fred carries on the family involvement, farmer mentorship and support of Agriculture on the Island.

Chrissy Kinsman is the owner and founder of Pie Chicks Bakery. Born and raised in Ohio, Chrissy’s deep appreciation of agriculture stems from time spent berry picking with her father and watching the rural fields of her hometown being paved over for housing development. Her concern for food justice was nurtured during her seven years working at the FARM Institute, and her decision to permanently live on the island happened when she went to the Ag Fair for the first time and really felt the depth and history of the island community. She lives and gardens in West Tisbury with her husband Drew, chocolate lab Rosie and her cat, Lucy.

Tina Miller grew up in West Tisbury hacking around farms. Still fascinated with local farmers and farming she is co-Editor as well as writer, recipe developer, and photographer for Edible Vineyard Magazine, covering farming, food, and community on MV. Her day job: after a full career as a chef and restauranteur, she has transitioned into Real Estate as a Realtor at Point B Realty.

Adam Moore has been President of Sheriff’s Meadow Foundation since 2008. Prior to his service with Sheriff’s Meadow Foundation, Adam worked as Executive Director of Connecticut Forest & Park Association, Land Superintendent for the Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank Commission, and a forester for Connwood Foresters. Adam is the author of A Year on Martha’s Vineyard, published in 2015. Adam was introduced to Martha’s Vineyard by his wife, Melissa; he and Melissa reside at Quansoo Farm and have four children—Madeleine, Isabel, Ingrid and Huck.

Daniel Sternbach is the owner and operator of Lost and Found Grain in West Tisbury. Like many, Dan is committed to understanding where food comes from and having a hand in the process.

Honorary Trustees

Bill Haynes

Eleanor Neubert

Alternate Trustees

Michael Barnes