b'VAST NewsTWO $1,500 VAST SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED TO LOCAL TEENSBy Patty Companik snowmobile, and better yet, who wasstaying on marked trails, respecting The Scholarship and Recognitionthe first to ride one? Where could theysignage, and maintain our trails Committee is pleased to announcepossibly have gone without trails likeproudly. In order to preserve our trails the recipients of two VAST $1,500the one I was riding on? That was theand allow generations to come to enjoy scholarships for 2019.moment I realized the role landownersthem like we have, we must each play Carson Molleur is a member of theplay in our beloved winter sport. our part. Contributing to a local club, Mountain Tamers of WashingtonWithout land, there would be no trails,maintaining trails, communicating County.Carson has attended cluband without trails, snowmobilingand involving landowners with club meetings since the age of three withwould not be the same. activities and fundraisers will ensure his parents.He has helped with trailRiders like myself love nothingthe use of our trails for years to come.maintenance projects, bridge work andmore than to cruise along the rolling_ _ _ supported fundraising events.Carsonhills and dense forests of Vermont,Morgan Stevens is a member of the plans to attend Rochester Institute ofwhich is why our relationships withGrafton Outing Club of Windham Technology in NY in the fall to studylandowners is so important. WithoutCounty. Morgan helps the clubMechanical Engineering Technology. them, the winter sport that means somaintain trails, host the snowmobile Carsons Essay: much to us would up and vanish. safety course and organize club I was introduced to snowmobilingThis past summer, I had the fantasticmeetings.Morgan plans to attend at the age of three when my parentsopportunity to work full time andVermont Technical College in the fall propped me up on a little Z120 onemaintain VASA trails across the state. to study Business Technology and freezing morning. Although it wasntAlthough I love my job, it is sad to sayManagement. very fast and I often got stuck, therethat the main thing keeping me busyMorgans Essay:was nothing more thrilling than ridingwas the constant modifications and that little sled around that yard. Everyrearrangement of trails because ridersBeing able to snowmobile in Vermont winter after, just like many Vermonters,were not respectful to landowners. Ithas been such a privilege. I know snowmobiling was something I greatlyis unfortunate for the four-wheelingthat people in other places of the anticipated. The sound of a little twocommunity, but it serves as a reminderworld struggle to get permission to stroke humming away, the snowflakesto us snowmobilers how importantride on trails in their area. Vermont bouncing off the shield of my helmet,it is to be respectful to landowners;snowmobile enthusiasts are very and the bright yellow lights dancingotherwise, our trails would begin tofortunate that the landowners allow us around the field at night. change and disappear too. to ride on their property. If we could Respecting, educating, andnot get permission from them, we Once I turned sixteen, I drove mymaintaining relationships withwould not be able to enjoy our time own machine on the trails with mylandowners should be the priority ofoutdoors on the trails with our loved dad for the first time. Many thoughtsevery rider who proudly travels withones. were racing through my mind as wea VAST sticker on their sled. Let everyIn my club, I feel that we value our darted back and forth across the freshVermont rider show their gratitudelandowners immensely because we groomed power. Who invented theand affection to every landowner byunderstand that they do a lot for us.Since they are being very generous to us, we make every effort to show them that we appreciate what they do. My club hosts a landowner appreciation cookout in March. This is a time where all members and non-members of the club come together to enjoy the season and most importantly thank the people that make this experience possible. I have been riding snowmobiles ever since I could walk and it has shaped me into the person I am today.I am very grateful for the opportunity that I have had riding these trails.My entire family is very involved in our club.My dad is the President and my mom is the Treasurer.Both of them work very hard to maintain and help Macy, Eric, Cassie and Carson Molleur. our club grow.We spend hours doing 8 | Snowmobile VERMONT'