Brian and Kathy (Bernard) Ahearn
Classes of 1984 and 1985
Brian and Kathy Ahearn, founders of Four Your Paws Only LLC, have built a legacy defined by compassion, community service, and a lifelong dedication to animals. Both graduates of Norfolk County Agricultural High School—Brian in Landscaping (1984) and Kathy in Small Animal Science (1985)—the couple moved to North Conway, New Hampshire in 1994 with their young son and a house full of animals to pursue their dream of opening a pet specialty store.
Over the past three decades, Four Your Paws Only has grown into a highly respected, award-winning business known not only for its quality products but also for its deep commitment to animal welfare. The Ahearns have supported countless organizations through donations, volunteer work, and community events, benefiting groups such as Harvest Hills Animal Shelter and the Conway Area Humane Society, where they were honored as Humane Heroes. Their business has also been recognized by the Mount Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce and named Best Pet Supply Store in New Hampshire by NH Magazine seven times, along with receiving national accolades for community relations and retail excellence.
Beyond their business achievements, both Brian and Kathy have devoted significant time to volunteerism and public service. Brian coached youth sports, volunteered with the Eastern Slope Ski Program, assisted in mountain rescues involving injured dogs, and traveled to Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina to help care for displaced animals. He currently serves as an active member of the White Mountain Disaster Animal Response Team.
Kathy has made equally impactful contributions, volunteering extensively in local schools teaching pet safety and assisting with school theater productions through costume and set design work. In 2003, she became a founding board member of the Conway Area Humane Society, and in 2009 she founded the White Mountain Disaster Animal Response Team, where she continues to serve as team leader. Kathy also plays leadership roles in the White Mountain Horse Association and the White Mountain Independents Small Business Group.
Today, the Ahearns live on a small farm surrounded by the animals they love and credit their success to the strong foundation they built at the Aggie. Their son, Kevin, now Store Manager of Four Your Paws Only, and his wife Sarah, continue the family’s commitment to excellence and service, leading the business into the future.
Through their work in business, rescue, and community outreach, Brian and Kathy Ahearn continue to make a meaningful difference in the lives of animals and the people who care for them.
Adam Griffin
Class of 2000
Adam W. Griffin, an Animal Science major, is a seasoned leader in the agricultural industry, currently serving as Senior Product Manager at Valley Ag Software (VAS). After graduating the Aggie he continued his education at the University of Vermont, earning a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science in 2004, and later completed his MBA at Franklin Pierce University in 2011.
Adam’s career spans more than two decades across key agricultural organizations, including the Holstein Association USA, Feed Commodities International, Lely North America, and now VAS. His work has taken him across 36 states and 9 countries, building strong relationships with dairy farmers and industry professionals. In 2009, he was honored to present to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture on the critical role of national animal identification in disease response.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Adam is deeply committed to his community. He serves as a volunteer firefighter with both the Buckland and Shelburne Falls Fire Districts and as a volunteer EMT. In addition, he contributes to local education as a School Board Member for Franklin County Technical High School.
Adam credits his time at the Aggie as foundational to his career path. Through both his studies and hands-on experience in the school’s cooperative farm program, he developed a lasting passion for agriculture and continues to maintain strong connections with his teachers and mentors.
He resides in Buckland, Massachusetts with his wife, Melissa, where they own and operate Clessons River Dairy Farm. Together, they manage a herd of 55 registered Holsteins and Brown Swiss, utilizing advanced robotic technology for milking and barn management—blending tradition with innovation in modern dairy farming.
Angela (Locantore) Parker
Class of 2005
Angela Parker’s passion for working with animals began at an early age, starting with horses in 4-H at just nine years old. She continued to build on this foundation at Norfolk County Agricultural High School, where she pursued a pre-veterinary track in Animal Science. During her junior year, she gained hands-on experience at an emergency veterinary clinic through her work program, remaining there for three years while also working at local boarding kennels.
Angela went on to earn her degree in Animal Science from UMass Amherst, graduating Cum Laude. While there, she was an active member of the sheep club and spent all four years working at the Hadley Livestock Barn, caring for goats, sheep, pigs, and a guard llama. Her responsibilities included lamb watch, assisting with births, and bottle-rearing lambs. She also worked at the university’s horse barn and volunteered at Forest Park Zoo.
After college, Angela completed internships at Wildlife Safari in Oregon, where she transitioned into a full-time role as a zookeeper. Over two years, she worked with a range of carnivores including black bears, grizzly and coastal brown bears, lions, tigers, and cheetahs—at one of the nation’s largest cheetah breeding facilities. She played a key role in daily public presentations and was the primary trainer for six black bears, focusing on operant conditioning.
Angela later joined the Great Plains Zoo in South Dakota, where she spent three years working with diverse species, including big cats, hoofstock, birds, reptiles, and critically endangered red wolves. She gained valuable experience hand-rearing animals such as squirrel monkeys, red panda cubs, and ducklings, and contributed to the care of a mother-raised litter of red wolf pups.
After starting a family, Angela returned to Massachusetts and joined Franklin Park Zoo. She began as an extern in the Bird’s World Department before working in the Tropical Forest exhibit with birds, primates, reptiles, hyenas, and tapirs. She later became Lead Keeper of the Children’s Zoo, where she focused on educating the public about heritage breeds while caring for a variety of domestic and exotic animals, including red pandas.
Although she has stepped back from her leadership role, Angela remains actively involved in animal training programs, working with species such as Dexter cattle, Black Welsh Mountain sheep, Guinea hogs, muntjac deer, and red pandas. She has also contributed to enrichment and exercise programs for the Morgan horse and played a significant role in caring for the critically endangered Poitou donkeys, including hand-rearing a jack foal—one of her proudest professional achievements.
Outside of her career, Angela continues to ride horses when time allows and enjoys life with her husband, Joshua, and their two children. Together, they foster rescue dogs from Puerto Rico through Paws4Survival and care for their own pets, which include dogs, cats, and chickens.
Rebecca (McPherson) Snow
Class of 2012
Becky has built a successful career rooted in her passion for animals, now serving as a professional dog groomer and co-owner of Kiss My Mutt Pet Salon in Braintree, Massachusetts. After graduating as a Canine Science major at the Aggie, she continued her education at Tiffin University, earning a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in Managerial Studies in 2016.
After working as a dog groomer from 2013 to 2023, Becky took the entrepreneurial leap to open her own salon alongside fellow classmate Nichole Berardi. Her journey reflects both her technical expertise in canine care and her strong foundation in business management.
Becky remains deeply connected to her community and her roots in youth development, serving as Co-Leader of the Pembroke Hoof n Whisker 4-H Club—the same organization she was part of from 2006 to 2013.
She credits her time at the Aggie with helping shape her career path. Initially uncertain about her future but knowing it would involve animals, Becky discovered her passion through canine and grooming classes. These experiences not only taught her how to groom dogs, but also gave her the skills and confidence to build and run her own business.
Animals have always been central to Becky’s life. Coming from a family that has bred and shown Bernese Mountain Dogs for generations, she has continued that tradition while expanding their breeding program with advanced titles in rally, obedience, therapy work, and canine good citizen certification. In addition, Becky raised dairy goats during high school and continues to grow that passion today, with plans to showcase her herd at the American Dairy Goat Association National Show and to launch a raw goat milk business.
Now residing in Scituate, Massachusetts, Becky continues to blend her lifelong love of animals with entrepreneurship, education, and community involvement—building a career that reflects both dedication and innovation in animal care.
Susan (Gould) Billings
Animal Science 1981-2013
Soo (Gould) Billings devoted more than three decades to Norfolk County Agricultural High School, serving as an Animal Science Instructor, FFA Advisor, Yearbook Advisor, and Girls Cross Country Coach from 1981 to 2013, following her student teaching in 1979. Throughout her tenure, she played an integral role in shaping both the Animal Science program and the broader Aggie community.
Beginning in production animal science, Soo taught the farming fundamentals—including tractor operation—before helping to expand and evolve the program into small animal and equine studies. She developed and led the horse program, growing the herd from six to sixteen horses through donations, constructing additional stalls, and transforming existing facilities to better support student learning.
A passionate advocate for student leadership and engagement, Soo served as Head FFA Advisor for over 20 years and Yearbook Advisor for more than a decade. She was also a class advisor, faculty athletic manager, and longtime Girls Cross Country coach, leading teams to multiple state vocational and Mayflower League titles. With the support of colleague Dick Morse, she helped launch the Aggie Summer Camp program, beginning with a small horse camp and growing it into a lasting tradition. She also contributed to restarting the adult education program and helped establish beloved events such as the annual hayride and seasonal trips.
Soo’s greatest pride has always been her students—their achievements, growth, and the lasting connections formed over the years. From memorable moments like early teaching-day pranks to taking students foxhunting, traveling to competitions, and guiding them through FFA events, she created experiences that extended far beyond the classroom. Many of her former students have gone on to careers in agriculture and related fields, with some returning to Aggie as educators themselves. She continues to stay connected, often seeing former students as professionals, business owners, and stewards of the agricultural community.
In retirement, Soo remains active and deeply engaged in the pursuits she loves. She has continued teaching through the Aggie Summer Camp program, spent ten years as a full-time whipper-in with the Norfolk Hunt, and competed in equestrian eventing. She is active in dog sports, including dock diving and agility, participates in AKC conformation shows, and contributes to 4-H as a foundation trustee, cooperator, and judge. She also enjoys skiing, traveling internationally, and exploring the country by motorhome with her husband and their dogs.
A recipient of the FFA Honorary American Farmer Degree upon her retirement, Soo reflects on her time at Aggie as one of the most meaningful chapters of her life. The students, colleagues, and community she was part of remain like family, making this recognition especially significant and deeply appreciated.
John Lee
Plant/Environmental Science 2001-2024
John J. Lee dedicated 23 years to Norfolk County Agricultural High School, serving as Department Head and Teacher from 2001–2004 and as a teacher in the Plant and Environmental Sciences Department from 2004–2024. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and Geology from Bridgewater State College, a Master of Science in Environmental Sciences from UMass Boston, and a Master of Science in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College.
John’s journey to Aggie began in 2001 when, while teaching as an adjunct professor at Suffolk University, he responded to a small newspaper ad seeking environmental professionals interested in teaching. What followed was more than two decades of meaningful work with students and colleagues, where he found immense fulfillment in guiding students toward their own successes—his greatest source of pride as an educator.
Among his many professional accomplishments, John played a key role in the creation of the Environmental Sciences Department, helping to shape a program that prepares students for rewarding careers in the field. He also established a valued internship partnership with The Trustees of Reservations, providing students with hands-on learning experiences that have had a lasting impact.
Beyond the classroom, John was deeply involved in student life. He served as a class advisor for the Classes of 2008 and 2022, coached Natural Resources teams through FFA to the national level, and led the Conservation Club for many years—organizing activities ranging from campus recycling initiatives to camping and ski trips. He also spent eight years as the boys cross country coach and was a dedicated contributor to the school’s annual hayride, a cherished Aggie tradition.
One of his most memorable teaching experiences was co-teaching Forestry with colleague Justin Kennedy, where students gained hands-on skills using equipment such as chainsaws, sawmills, and wood chippers—an experience that exemplified the collaborative and experiential learning John valued.
Today, John continues his passion for education as a full-time faculty member at Massachusetts Maritime Academy in the Marine Sciences, Safety, and Environmental Protection Department. He also manages a farm in Walpole with his wife, Jennifer, and their children, including two Aggie graduates. John credits his time at Aggie with shaping not only his teaching career but also his work as a farmer, and remains deeply grateful for the opportunity to have been part of the Aggie community.
