Off The Gravel Road
Off the Gravel Road
Robb Ellis is a husband, father, grandfather, educator, tradesman, and public servant with a deep-rooted commitment to small-town life and hands-on learning. Born in Los Angeles, California, Robb moved to Vermont in the 1980s, where he began his first career in law enforcement. After retiring from the field, he transitioned into the plumbing and heating industry—eventually becoming a technical trainer at FIA, where he now helps shape the next generation of skilled trades professionals across New England.
Robb’s journey has taken him through Vermont, Maine, Massachusetts, and now New Hampshire—where he and his wife Kristen have lived for many years. Married for over 31 years, they’ve raised three sons and are now proud grandparents to two granddaughters.
In addition to his work at FIA, Robb serves on the Barnstead Select Board and as an ex officio member of the zoning board, where he brings a grounded, practical voice to local governance. He’s also the force behind Storer Ranch and Cow Camp, rural education initiatives rooted in soil health, regenerative agriculture, and trades-based learning. Through programs like the Storer Ranchers 4-H Club and partnerships with local schools, Robb is helping rural youth gain real-world skills and a sense of stewardship for the land.
Having lived in small towns across New England, Robb has come to appreciate their quiet differences and shared spirit. Off the Gravel Road, his podcast, explores what makes these communities tick—sharing conversations from porches, pastures, and town halls that reflect the values, humor, and grit of life beyond the pavement.
Off The Gravel Road
School Finance on the Edge — From Claremont to IEPs to Forest Classrooms
What happens when a school district runs out of money just days before the first bell? In Claremont, NH, families are finding out the hard way. Facing a $1–5 million deficit, the school board cut 19 newly hired teachers and paraprofessionals before they even started, saving $1.8 million but leaving educators and students reeling.
And Claremont isn’t alone. Pittsfield overspent its budget by $1.9 million. Timberlane and Merrimack Valley slashed millions more. Behind these headlines lies a deeper story: the rising cost of special education and a broken funding model that leans too heavily on local property taxes.
In this episode of Off the Gravel Road, we explore:
- Why IEP numbers are climbing — with more kids being identified for autism, ADHD, and other needs than ever before.
- The cost difference: IEP students average $31,000 per year in services compared to $18,700 for non-IEP students, with the state covering only 17%.
- A clear message: we’re not anti-IEP. Every child deserves support. The challenge is giving schools the resources without breaking everything else.
- How property-poor towns like Claremont, Pittsfield, and Berlin face the hardest trade-offs.
But it’s not all crisis. We highlight solutions already happening here in New Hampshire:
- Forest school models that are spreading across the U.S., helping kids focus, cooperate, and thrive outdoors.
- Local programs like SOAR After-School, NH Farm Kids Daycare, Barn in the Woods, and the OWL Program at Barnstead Elementary, giving students hands-on learning rooted in community and land.
- And we hear from youth voices. Will, one of our own, explains adaptive grazing in plain English — showing how cattle, soil, and kids can all grow stronger together.
We close with Will’s reminder:
“Healthy soil makes everything else healthier — the plants, the animals, and us. It cleanses our air, our water, and our environment. When we grow from healthy soil, food tastes better, grows stronger, and nourishes us more. Making soil healthier should be a goal for everyone.”
🎧 Stay tuned for a future episode where you’ll hear directly from Charlie and Eleanor, two local kids who spent their summer outdoors at TL Storer.
LorrenJoyce Farm is a family farm dedicated to producing quality products that are grown with compassion, integrity and pride. We specialize in pasture raised beef, jersey cow raw milk and farm fresh eggs. We are focused around the health and well-being of our animals, in order to create the best product possible!
LorrenJoyce Farm was started in December of 2013 by Amy & Brian Matarozzo. The farm began operating at its first location in Londonderry, New Hampshire . As the farm operati
