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
Leadership on the Trail: Inside National Youth Leadership Training
In this episode of Off the Gravel Road, host Nova Johnson sits down with Adam Yelcin, youth course lead and Order of the Arrow member, to explore one of Scouting’s most transformative experiences — National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT).
Adam shares what makes NYLT so unique, from the immersive weeklong structure to the powerful lessons in communication, teamwork, and servant leadership. Listeners will hear how the course empowers Scouts to lead both in their troops and in life, and how youth staff help shape the next generation of confident, capable leaders.
Whether you’re a Scout considering NYLT for the first time, or an adult curious about how it builds stronger units, this conversation offers an inside look at what leadership on the trail truly means.
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