Written by Amber Perry

Roy Folsom, a Premier Farm Certified Agent with the Fewer Agency, has made it his mission to help protect the dairy farms he insures by installing Fireball fire suppression devices whenever possible. One of those farms belongs to Matt Lindstrom of East Cabot.

Matt purchased his picturesque dairy farm from Velma White in 1997. Today, he and his son, Denver, operate the farm together, milking a mixed herd made up primarily of Holsteins. As the next generation becomes more involved in the operation, Denver has begun incorporating Lineback genetics into the herd. In 2004, the family made the significant decision to transition the farm from conventional to organic production.

Continuing to invest in the future of their operation, the Lindstroms’ installed a new milking parlor in July 2022. Unfortunately, just seven months later, in February 2023, a fire broke out in the newly constructed facility.

Fortunately, the parlor’s closed-system design helped confine the fire to the compressor room, preventing it from spreading to the rest of the barn. As the fire intensified, plastic water hoses melted, releasing water that helped reduce the extent of the damage.

Fortunately, the parlor’s closed-system design helped confine the fire to the compressor room, preventing it from spreading to the rest of the barn. As the fire intensified, plastic water hoses melted, releasing water that helped reduce the extent of the damage.

“It felt like the whole place could have been lost,” Matt recalled.

Following the fire, Matt was especially thankful for the support and foresight of his insurance agent, Roy Folsom, who had installed a Fireball fire suppression device in the compressor room. The additional protection provided valuable peace of mind and reinforced the importance of taking proactive steps to safeguard a farm, its buildings, and the family’s livelihood.

For Roy, helping farmers prepare for the unexpected is more than part of the job. It’s a commitment to protecting the people, businesses, and legacies that make Vermont agriculture strong.

The Fewer Agency in Barre, Vt. is making the Fireball devices available to their dairy farm clients.