Terry Wright Named Vermont Tech’s Alumnus of the Year

For a man who started his career in farming, it’s no surprise that Terry Wright has a knack for making things grow. The founder and owner of Wrightholm Farm, Inc. in West Enosburg, Wright has been named Vermont Tech’s 2006 Alumnus of the Year. He received the honor in recognition of a remarkable 40-year-career—one spent bringing a number of fledgling businesses to tremendous growth.

Wright’s first success came on the heels of his 1966 graduation from Vermont Tech, when he received his associate’s degree in agricultural technology. He remembers his days at the college fondly.

"I just loved it," he says. "The teachers were great, and everything was hands on. We used to take turns milking the cows, picking the apples…everything."

When Wright left VTC, he started dairy farming with just a few cows in a rented barn. One year later, he bought his own farm and eventually expanded it to 85 head of cattle. At the same time, he bought his parents’ school bus business, which boasted five school buses, and expanded it to 35 buses over the next two decades. He also operated a coach bus business for a number of years, which he expanded from one bus to four in as many years.

Today, having finished his farming career and sold both bus businesses, Wright has turned his attention full time to trucking. His family business operates 13 trucks and 50 tractor-trailers, and hauls paper throughout New England and Canada.

Wright says he was surprised when he received the call from Vermont Tech, informing him that he’d been named Alumnus of the Year.

"I didn’t even know my family had sent in my name," he says. "They had a lot of questions to answer when I got off the phone!" 

____________