The Story Behind the "Cow"-lendar

 From Sebastian Ryder

 SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE ASKED how the idea for the 2008 Vermont Haute
"Cow"ture evolved. Here's a brief narrative with the good parts left in and the boring
parts left out ... I hope.

Ben and Jerry are ready for anything in August.               (Jeff Clarke Photo)

The idea for the Vermont Haute "Cow"ture Calendar came to me in pieces. The
first piece occurred when I discovered that Nan Patrick had been in the ballet
class I just took. Nan is model-gorgeous to me and I got thinking about the idea
of models in Vermont. I'd think “What would models look like if they dressed like
Vermonters?” and a vision of Nan dressed in an evening gown, standing in a cow
pen popped into my head.

I held that vision for a couple of years, letting it ramble between my ears. It
always made me smile.

During those two years I also took the time to notice that everyone I knew seemed
to own a pair of Merrill's and something made out of fleece. And, would wear
shorts -- well, sometimes all year. I kept thinking someone should do a fashion
spread of clothing combinations and options that seem to be somewhat unique to
Vermont. (Okay. I admit it, they may dress exactly like this in Washington state, too.)
Since I didn't own a magazine or newspaper, I felt I didn't really have the option of
engaging in such an endeavor myself. Then I decided to do “Les Miserable” at
Champlain Valley Union High School. “Les Miserable” is an expensive show. I had
to kick my fund raising efforts into high gear. A parent had a connection to a company
that helps schools raise money. The students sell chocolate bars for $1.00
a piece. The school kept .50 of each bar sold.

I felt like a crack dealer.

All I could think about was four kids being approached at a lunch table and three
of them getting candy bars except one who is diabetic or one of the 30% of
Americans who are obese or nearly obese, or allergic to dairy.

Who made the chocolate? Who picked the cocoa beans? And what about the company
making profits on the backs of my students? It was awful.

Perhaps I make too much of such things. People in my life have often told me
so. Fortunately, I don't listen to them any more. I listen to my inner ethicist, my
moral barometer, and my common sense. I very much wanted an alternative that
was non-food related, created by a non-profit company, and a company that kept
money in Vermont.

Meanwhile, two things were happening: I had formulated the Vermont fashions idea
into a more concrete idea called Vermont Chic, and I was working more hours at
my job at Barnes and Noble. Two years ago I found myself absolutely marveling at
how well calendars sold during the holidays. Vermont Chic. Calendars. Hmm.

It took a couple of months, but I was finally able to gather enough courage together
to approach Elizabeth Skarie, the mother of one of my students, and ask for
help. She was amazingly supportive of the idea. Thank goodness, because I had
no idea that I was the kind of person capable to putting together something like
this and her enthusiasm and faith kept me on a good path.

Shortly after I proposed the idea to Elizabeth, we met with another parent, Beth
Gaylord. I offered two names for the calendar: Vermont Chic and Vermont Haute
"Cow"ture. They both agreed "Cow"ture was the way to go.

Elisabeth Von Trapp offers some "Moo-sic" in April.       (Jeff Clarke Photo)

It was summer, so we decided to begin shooting pictures in August. Elizabeth
used her considerable charm to book Ben and Jerry as our first shoot for the
calendar. After that everyone else seemed to fall in place more easily than
almost anything I've ever done. For me 'Ben and Jerry' was a more magical
phrase than 'abracadabra.'

I'm excited that this calendar has the potential to raise money for dozens of
performing arts programs in the state of Vermont. Thank you for letting me
bring it to you.