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Cheryl is married to Richard H. Rivers who
grew up in Brandon where he operated the family farm with
his brother until 1986 when he and Cheryl made the difficult
decision to leave dairy farming. Richard now works at Twin
Farms in Barnard, Vermont’s only five star resort
where he takes pride in the organic garden. Richard has
served on the Stockbridge Planning Commission for over 15
years and as Chairman for most of that time.
Cheryl describes Richard as the wind beneath
her wings, and her best friend.
Richard is busy these days caring for the
family Morgans while Cheryl is spending her time traveling
the state. When time allows Rick will be driving the family’s
Morgan stallion Hamilton in parades as part of the Rivers
Parade contingent. Rick will also help out representing
the campaign when two events occurring at the same time
make it impossible for Cheryl to attend both events. Don’t
be surprised if he knocks on your door asking you to put
up a Rivers lawn sign. When you see him at an event he may
offer to put a bumper sticker on your car. As Cheryl often
says, he is a multi talented guy. Don’t be fooled
by his quiet unassuming manner. When it comes to supporting
Cheryl, Rick is the rock of Gibraltar.
Cheryl and Richard will celebrate their 26th
wedding anniversary in September.
Cheryl and Richard have one son Nathan who
is 23 years old and studying at Community College of Vermont,
and working a full time job. In September he’s planning
to attend Johnson State College. Nathan is one of the campaign’s
less visible, but most important volunteers.
Cheryl was born in
Rutland Vermont the oldest of nine children. She lived in
Addison County for most of her childhood-in Cornwall, Shoreham,
Weiybridge, and later in Orwell. She has five brothers and
four sisters. Every member of the family but her youngest
brother still lives in Vermont. Cheryl’s Dad died
in 1989. Her Mom lives in Middlebury.
Cheryl’s sister Laura who lives in Warren
is one of the campaign’s most active volunteers. She
has already been a great help to the campaign driving Cheryl
to events, collecting signatures on nominating petitions,
and generally campaigning for her sister. Laura served as
Cheryl’s maid of honor when Cheryl married Richard
in 1978
Cheryl’s Mom has a bumper sticker on
her car that says. "Practice random acts of kindness
and senseless acts of beauty." Cheryl credits her Mom
with helping to instill her egalitarian values. " When
I was in the first grade at Cornwall elementary school I
remember my Mom telling me it was my job to be a friend
to the black children of the migrant workers who would come
to school for a couple of months in the fall during apple
picking," says Cheryl. "Mom said, "Think
what it must be like to be in a strange place with no friends.
You make sure that there is at least one person who they
have as a friend."
Cheryl’s Mom often read to her family.
She also taught her children that with hard work they could
fulfill their dreams. A message that Cheryl heard over and
over from her Mother was." You shouldn’t feel
that you are any better than anybody else. But just because
someone has more money than you doesn’t mean they
have more ability, or that they are a better person than
you."
Cheryl’s Mom has always been a strong
supporter of Cheryl’s efforts to make Vermont a better
place. She helped care for Nathan when he was young, and
today still helps Cheryl out in a myriad of ways. Lately
she has been donating a day per week of her time to help
the Rivers household keep running smoothly. Cheryl’s
sister Melanie has also been helping out on the home front.
Cheryl’s Mothers family came to Vermont
from France in the 1800s. In those days people often changed
their names to conceal their ethnic origins. The family
name from France was Swenore and was changed to Swenor to
sound more like an Anglican name. Cheryl’s great grandfather
was born in France. Cheryl’s great grandfather served
in the civil war having agreed to replace another Vermonter
who had been drafted. The agreed upon price was reportedly
$50.00 The family story goes that the fee was never paid.
Cheryl’s father’s family has English
roots. Her ancestors fought in the Revolutionary war. Her
Dad was a veteran of World War II. He served in the South
Pacific. Four generations back the family settled in Cornwall
in the Champlain Valley and raised Merino sheep.
They also had a knack
for training horses, and this ability has been traced back
to Cheryl’s Great Grandfather. Cheryl’s grandfather
farmed, trained horses and trained and raced Standardbreds.
Cheryl’s Grandmother Gladys was an early graduate
of Castleton State College and was a school teacher.
Cheryl’s father was a talented horse
trainer who spent many years training and showing horses
at the UVM Morgan Horse Farm in Weybridge before opening
his own horse training stable. Cheryl worked with him and
the two trained dozens of horses together. Stan Pratt best
was known for his ability to train Morgans to excel in trotting
races. and was named the Vermont Morgan Horse Association’s
"Man of the Year" posthumously in 1988.
He was very proud of Cheryl’s ability
with horses, and lived long enough to see his grandson Nathan
learn to ride and drive.
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