05/27/2026
There’s no one like Alice Newth! There will never be enough words to describe the incredible impact she has had on our farm, hundreds of animals and students alike. We will miss her greatly, and hope she is never a stranger at the farm. 💗
Let’s hear it for Alice! Alice Newth, a reliable and caring presence at the UMass Equine and Livestock Research and Education Farm in Hadley for more than 40 years, is retiring.
Newth has been a fixture at UMass Amherst since earning her bachelor’s degree in 1982, when she began working at the university’s dairy farm. She eventually moved to the 130-acre Hadley Farm—first to the horse barn and later to the livestock barn that houses pigs, goats, and sheep.
“I don't think I've ever worked with somebody who is more dedicated to her work and the program than Alice,” said Bob Skalbite, a former student and teaching assistant of Newth’s, who now serves as director of farms and facilities for the Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment at UMass Amherst. “Nor have I ever met somebody who has done more to try to bring people together in a workplace with a sense of community and belonging.”
“I’m going to miss the kids the most,” expressed Newth. “I’ve been working with some really nice people over the years, but I think that the students are the most fun. They get so excited about actually getting to do things like delivering a lamb or piglet. As an educator, you feed off of that enthusiasm.”
Learn more about Alice: https://bit.ly/4nSfrKd
College of Natural Sciences at UMass Amherst The Stockbridge School of Agriculture, UMass Amherst
