b'VAST NEWSMOTHER NATURE DOESNT COOPERATE WITH MILITARY EVENTBy Stan ChoinereThe VAST Safety Committee had been working for several months planning the return of the Military And First Responder Appreciation event for Jan. 21 at Oxbow Park, only to be defeated by the lack of snow. This event was also going to highlight International Snowmobile Safety Week.Cindy Locke had done a great job getting the venue secured, getting local fire departments and the National Guard scheduled for recognition and to have displays on-site. The Lamoille county club was ready to have a food concession, and the highlight was to be a visit and presentation by Governor Scott. Governor Scott was also going to get a chance to ride the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail. Any proceeds from the sale of food and donations were to be donated to local emergency services and to The Veterans Place in Northfield.So, with the snow conditions being what they were and nothing in the forecast, we canceled the event and Cindy made arrangements to expand the VAST booth at the Champlain Valley Yankee Sportsman Classic held Jan. 20Jan. 22 at the Essex Valley Expo Center. While this isnt our typical audience, we wanted an opportunity to support the efforts of The Veterans Place as well as promote our sport and focus on safety.Over the three days of the event, the VAST booth was represented by VAST staff, volunteers from the VAST Safety Ambassador Team, and folks from The Veterans Place. The event was packed! People were starting to get cabin fever and without snow and ice, the winter sportsman needed something to do.or back in after several years awayVeterans Place. Due to the generosity Unlike snowmobile shows, notfrom it. We also had the chance toof many people for buying raffle everyone who attended was athank a few landowners who stoppedtickets, we were still able to make a snowmobiler. That didnt stop peopleby that have trails on their property.donation to this worthy organization.from stopping by to tell us they feltNot all were snowmobilers, but stillWeather permitting, we hope to hold our pain for the lack of snow, askingsupported us.our Military Appreciation Day event questions about getting into the sport,Our major goal was to support Thenext season, stay tuned for details. 2 | Snowmobile VERMONT'