LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
Volume 39, Number 1-2, Summer / Fall 2026
C. E. O. Jen Kane Paterson
PRESIDENT-GROUP PUBLISHER John Paterson
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Megan Demarest megand @ greenmountainmg. com
ADVERTISING SALES TEAM
VP MARKETING & ADVERTISING Kim Jones kimj @ greenmountainmg. com
ADVERTISING AND OPERATIONS MANAGER Donna Burgess donnab @ greenmountainmg. com
ART & DIGITAL TEAM
VP CREATIVE DIRECTOR Leonard Kenyon lenk @ greenmountainmg. com
ART DIRECTOR Jen Hathaway
DIGITAL MARKETING MANAGER Craig Light
Hello, Friends!
2026 is the Year of the Fire Horse.
The Chinese zodiac rotates through a 12-year cycle of animals and five elements: wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. The last Year of the Fire Horse was in 1966. As a rare 60-year cycle event, the Fire Horse is associated with intense energy, passion, and, often, a call for bold, independent action.
How fitting that this issue of Vermont Magazine is the first published by our new owners, Jen Kane Paterson and John Paterson of Green Mountain Media Group. Jen and John have boldly moved forward with their stewardship of Vermont Magazine and our sister publications: The Guide, Manchester Life Magazine, and Stratton Magazine.
Jen’ s equestrian background serves as inspiration for all our publications this season. As you read through our Summer / Fall 2026 issue, you will feel the passion and power of the Fire Horse, told through Vermont’ s rich, equine history and the horse’ s enduring place in our culture and landscape( page 58).
Our Summer issue always highlights the literary prowess of Vermonters across the state. Turn to page 30 to read the winning prose and poetry entries for the Vermont Writers’ Prize, a contest tradition sponsored and organized by Green Mountain Power with support from us here at Vermont Magazine.
NICK BURCHARD
And wait’ til you see this year’ s Photo Contest winners on page 46!
The sweet sounds of summer can be heard throughout the state at live music concerts and festivals, like the Stowe Jazz Festival, now celebrating its 10th anniversary( page 38).
Within these pages, you will also find an 18th century farmer’ s refurbished old barn, elephants, fish, dragons, and the Wicked Witch of the West. Sounds like a fun scavenger hunt …
mailing address: PO Box 82
Arlington, VT 05250
I hope you fully enjoy the vibrancy of Summer and Fall in the Green Mountain State.
Wish you were here!
Vermont Magazine( ISSN 1044-940x) is published twice per year in Summer / Fall and Holiday / Winter by Green Mountain Media Group, LLC. Subscription rates are $ 26.45 per year. Periodicals postage paid at Arlington, VT and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Vermont Magazine, P. O. Box 82, Arlington, VT 05250. Copyright 2026 by Green Mountain Media Group. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reprinted without written permission from the publisher. Vermont Magazine assumes no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts or photographs. Materials will be returned only if accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope.