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.
Episodes
Recorded live inside the TL Storer Dining Hall during the Spirit of Adventure Council Camporee, this episode features Lucas Crispo, Lodge Chief of Penacook Lodge, Order of the Arrow.
Host Robb Ellis sits down with Lucas to explore what it means to be part of Scouting’s National Honor Society — from the meaning of the Ordeal and the spirit of cheerful service, to building leadership through hard work, teamwork, an...
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 ...
On this episode of Off the Gravel Road, host Malachi Reed sits down with Stephen Gousie and Jerry Cross from the Spirit of Adventure Council to explore one of Scouting’s most powerful traditions — Wood Badge.
More than just a training course, Wood Badge is a deep dive into teamwork, communication, and servant leadership — lessons that reach far beyond Scouting. Stephen and Jerry share stories from their own experiences...
In this episode of Off the Gravel Road, host Robb Ellis sits down with John Judge, Scout Executive of the Spirit of Adventure Council, former CEO of the Appalachian Mountain Club, and author of The Outdoor Citizen.
From his early days teaching environmental science at camp to leading some of New England’s most respected outdoor organizations, John shares how Scouting builds more than skills — it builds resilience, lead...
In this episode of Off the Gravel Road, we sit down with George “Rusty” Krause — a lifelong Barnstead resident whose name is woven through the town’s fire service, fields, and civic life.
Rusty has worn more hats than most folks could fit on a rack: engineer, farmer, fire chief, horseman, and now fire warden and public servant. He’s a man with a great sense of humor, a big heart for community, and a knack for telling i...
What do grades really mean? Why do we take so many tests? And how do schools decide what “progress” looks like?
In this student-led episode of Off the Gravel Road, Barnstead Elementary student Aurora sits down with Assistant Superintendent Matt Jozokos to unpack the world of grades, assessments, and learning. From state testing to effort vs. ability, Aurora asks the honest questions that every kid — and parent — wonder...
In this episode of Off the Gravel Road, we bring both the parent and student voice to the microphone. Nicole Leonard, Human Resource Coordinator and Project Manager Assistant at Milestone Engineering & Construction, shares what it’s like to support the Barnstead Elementary renovation behind the scenes while also being a BES parent.
Joining her is her daughter, Chloe, a sixth grader and classmate of student co-host ...
In this episode of Off the Gravel Road, Robb sits down with Art St. Laurent, owner of Art’s Ammo & Firearms, longtime law enforcement officer, and first-year Selectman in Pittsfield, NH.
Art shares what it was like serving as a hometown police officer for 20 years, how his shop has become a gathering place for the community, and why he’s passionate about youth firearm safety programs at TL Storer and his work as a ...
Thomas Fung’s journey is a story of leadership in action. From long days on his grandparents’ dairy farm in upstate New York to summers on staff at TL Storer, Thomas learned early that true leadership means hard work, responsibility, and service to others. As an Eagle Scout and valedictorian of a technical high school, he carried those lessons into the skilled trades—now thriving as an HVAC technician with AccuTemp. B...
In this episode of Off the Gravel Road, Robb sits down with Kristi Hikel—former Barnstead Elementary assistant principal and now principal of Moultonborough Central School. Together, they explore Kristi’s journey from PE teacher to school leader, the lessons she’s carried from Barnstead to Moultonborough, and how transparency, vulnerability, and a “farm strong” mindset shape her approach to education.
The conversation ...
In this episode of Off the Gravel Road, we bring trades, kids, and community together to highlight the renovation at Barnstead Elementary School. Sixth-grader and co-host Amity Authier sits down with Brett Hupfer (Job Superintendent) and Matt Beaulieu (Project Manager) from Milestone Engineering & Construction to ask the questions every student is curious about: What exactly is being built? How long will it take? ...
From the Marines to the post office, from the kitchen to the American Legion, Michael Minot has always found ways to serve. In this episode of Off the Gravel Road, Michael shares how scouting shaped his youth, why he chose the Marine Corps, and how food became his universal language. We talk about family, balance, community, and his role as Postmaster of Barnstead and treasurer of Post 42. It’s a conversation about fl...
This week’s SOAR News is brought to you by our student hosts, Emi and Amity! Tune in as they share updates from around Barnstead, including Parks & Rec projects, upcoming events like Trunk-or-Treat, the exciting Outdoor Wilderness Learning (OWL) program for sixth graders, and the latest happenings at the Oscar Foss Memorial Library. Plus, catch the Select Board agenda, school sports highlights, and a peek at this ...
On this episode of Off the Gravel Road, Robb Ellis sits down with Amy Matarozzo of LorrenJoyce Farm in Barnstead, NH. From milking her first cows as a child to building a farm from scratch with her husband Brian, Amy shares a journey of perseverance, community, and love for the land. Together, they’ve raised Jersey cows and Hereford beef, homeschooled their children, and served as leaders in the New Hampshire Farm Bur...
In this special episode of Off the Gravel Road, we sit down with our SOAR after-school kids to kick off “the art of conversation.” From summer adventures and first-day-of-school stories to a few surprises, these quick chats capture the energy, honesty, and humor of our youngest voices. This is just the beginning—soon the kids themselves will be leading the interviews and sharing stories on stage for family and commun...
In this very special episode of Off the Gravel Road, host Robb Ellis sits down with his father, Bob Ellis, to capture a remarkable life story. From growing up in Massachusetts with deep roots in Prince Edward Island, to serving in the Coast Guard, building a career in construction and consulting, and even running the Arlington Inn in Vermont, Bob shares the experiences that shaped him across nearly nine decades.
Alongs...
In this episode of Off the Gravel Road, we sit down with Nancy Carr—planning board chair, town moderator, and longtime community leader. From childhood memories of gravel roads and ice skating on the river, to the explosive growth of Locke Lake Colony, to preparing Barnstead for its 300th anniversary, Nancy offers a heartfelt look at how small towns evolve while holding on to their roots.
She shares stories of family t...
In this special Off the Gravel Road staff spotlight, we sit down with Camdon Drolet, our newest SOAR team member. At just 14, Camdon has already reeled in tournament wins, earned a black belt in Okinawan karate, and balanced school, sports, and family life with a drive well beyond his years. From teaching kids how to fish for the very first time, to learning patience on the water, to chasing his passion for bass fishi...
Introduction: A Summer of Cows, Soil, and Curiosity
This episode of Off the Gravel Road invites listeners into the joyful, curious, and surprisingly profound world of two young campers—Charlotte and Eleanor—who attended Cow Camp at TL Storer. The conversation begins with host Robb Ellis setting the scene: TL Storer is a place where children from the local community gather for day camp activities like fishing, ...
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...
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