Nick grew up on his family’s organic farm in Vermont and has always felt like his most authentic self living and working with animals. At the age of 4 he was adamant to do something with horses and has been working with equines and other draft animals ever since. Working with draft animals develops a person’s self awareness and requires deliberate intention and acute observation. Nick is eager to share in the hard work and personal growth from working with animals with the Sterling community. Nick’s love of nature and his family values of ecological lifestyle brought Nick to Sterling with plans to study outdoor education in 2005, but he found himself in the woods with a chainsaw and a pair of horses on a 10 degree day and more at home then ever. Nick shifted his studies to natural resource management where he practiced and learned the art and science of sustainable logging and farming with draft animal power.
Previous to joining the Sterling faculty, Nick has done everything from lead pack trips through the Wind River range of Wyoming to starting a trash recycling and compost business powered solely with horses. Nick has worked hard to incorporate draft animals into all aspects of his life and career. Nick’s strong passion for working with animals shows in his teaching style and reflects in his lead by example ethics.
In addition to his many hooved and pawed friends, he lives with his amazing wife Martha and 3 strong spirited girls—Eleanor, Fern, and Enid.