Ronald Patenaude, Patenaude Farm, Holland Center, Vt.

Everyone knows that young people have an abundance of energy and creativity to offer. Ronald Patenaude was no different. Focused on a dream of continuing his family farm, Ron created a rewarding business by turning his drive and seemingly endless energy into a beckoning business opportunity.

“Dairy farming is in my blood,” Ron says. Back in 1994, when his dad was thinking about retiring, Ron decided to ensure that the family farm would not only survive, but thrive. Today, after just eight years in business for himself, Ron is even more dedicated to dairy farming. (Of course, his dad never really did retire. He just "slowed down” to working 60 to 70 hours a week for his son, rather than for himself!)

Recently, Ron said, “I’ve taken the cards I’ve been dealt in today’s dairy economy, and learned to run a tight business. When milk prices improve, I will have lived through a good lesson, and know how to be more profitable.

“I’ve learned so many other lessons since I first started in business, from how to take advantage of available resources to how to look on the bright side when I’m discouraged.

“Loren Petzoldt, my Yankee Farm Credit loan officer, has taught me many of these lessons. I frequently bounce around ideas and discuss my plans with him. Loren is a financial expert. I am a businessperson. I take advantage of his expertise to help my business. I need Yankee to help finance my business, keep my financial records and prepare my taxes, but I also rely on their advice.”

These days, Ron still has the energy to run a 150-cow dairy farm and a maple sugar operation and a logging business. And he still wins quality awards from St. Albans Cooperative — Patenaude Farm has been one of the top seven milk producers among approximately 500 dairy farms for several years.

Because Ron is also father to 5-year-old Kati and 3-year-old Jacob and a husband to Jennifer, he keeps another important lesson close to his heart. “I take every Sunday off when we are not sugaring or cropping, because Sunday is family day, and I also take a week’s vacation every year.” Clearly, Ron is putting a great deal of energy and creativity into running a profitable business, and, from all appearances, he is also refusing to put his life and family on hold to be successful. Now that’s one astute entrepreneur!

Click on the name of each of the entrepreneurs or graduates below to find out more about the road they traveled:

Entrepreneurs:

• Ben and Andrew Saenger, Saenger cattle, Shoreham, Vt.
• Dean Rheaume, Maurice Rheaume & Sons, Middlebury, Vt.
• Keith Sprague, Sprague's Ranch, East Brookfield, Vt.
• Mike Garrow, Rocklan Farm, Berkshire, Vt.
• Pete Norris, Jr. Greenhaven Gardens & Nursery, New Haven, Vt.

"Graduates":

• Ronald Patenaude, Patenaude Farm, Holland Center, Vt.
• Bruce Bascom, Bascom Maple Farms, Inc., Alstead, N.H.
• Chris and John Laggis, Laggis brothers Farm, Hardwick, Vt.

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