00000179-c810-d4c2-a579-fdd2fe7b0000VPR is celebrating 40 years of public service in 2017, and we spent the summer sharing favorite memories, stories and goals for the next 40 years of public service. Plus, we hosted an epic block party at our expanded and renovated headquarters at Fort Ethan Allen in Colchester. Scroll through to see what people have shared using #VPR40.00000179-c810-d4c2-a579-fdd2fe7c0000"There are too many mountains in Vermont. You have more cows than people. It will never work."That’s what national experts said in 1975, when a small group of Vermonters got together and pitched this crazy idea to start Vermont Public Radio. VPR had just two employees and one big vision: to create a statewide resource that would connect Vermont’s many communities to share ideas and discuss issues that affected us all.Read more about the history of VPR.Today, VPR is thriving as one of the most listened-to public radio stations in the country. That says a lot about the people of this region — that they care about community, value cultural connections and believe an informed public strengthens our democracy.According to Betty Smith, “because we had made the critical decision not to depend on another organization or the state for financial support, but to stand or fall on the value of our service to the community, every single step of building this network has depended on the support of people with vision, commitment and a few dollars to spare."Thank your for being part of our community; we would not be here without you. We can’t wait to see what the next 40 years will bring.