four years.

This month I’m celebrating my fourth anniversary at the Glidden Homestead… I started on April Fool’s Day. 

Four years ago, I may have been a little bit of a fool, stepping into a role I didn’t fully understand. I knew very little about nonprofits, historic buildings, or what it meant to be an executive director. But two people saw potential in me—one who recommended me for the job and one who said to hire me immediately after my impassioned interview—and I’m so grateful they did. I've never taken that for granted. Every day since, I’ve worked to learn, grow, and do right by this place. It deserves to thrive and outlive us all. 

One thing that surprised me? How quickly I fell in love with the barn. I love every part of the Homestead, but the barn and its atmosphere has always felt different—full of innovation, energy, and possibility. Even when I've felt completely overwhelmed by it, I knew I wanted to be part of its story. 

But my favorite part of this role isn’t a place—it’s people. It’s the volunteer who stays a little longer on a Sunday because they enjoy being here. The donor who writes a check and says "I believe in you and the work you're doing." The committee member or board member who finds their niche and runs with it. The texts that say, “Look what I found!” or “This made me think of you/Glidden!” And most of all, it’s when people say “We.” 

Recently someone said, “The tack room walls look so good! What’s it going to look like when we are at SNAG?” 

We. 

Because this place belongs to all of us. I’m just grateful to be a steward—and to have a front row seat to the journey. 

The best is yet to come.