Pints, Planes, & Our Modern Rosies: A Sweet Adventure at Ben & Jerry’s

Written By Beth White

Our Women Build Planes team took a well-deserved break from riveting and wrenching to visit the world-famous Ben & Jerry’s Factory, in Waterbury Vermont. To say the team had fun would be an understatement! From our most senior member, Granny Disa, to our youngest, Sammie, the day was filled with laughter, curiosity, and—of course—ice cream.

We measured our heights in pints, jumped about in excitement, and marveled at the meticulous process that turns simple ingredients into some of the world’s best and most unique flavors. Our incredible tour guide, Wren, made the experience even more special with a personal shoutout to our group and our very own sign!

The highlight of the day was when we were encouraged to dream up our very own ice cream flavor! Inspired by the spirit of our WWII Rosie the Riveter Sisters who broke so many barriers, we’re brainstorming a flavor that captures the essence of our Modern Rosies—bold, strong, and built to do hard things. Will it be a maple-fueled creation as a nod to our roots? A “riveting” chocolate delight? One thing we know for sure, just like the airplanes we build, it will be made with heart, grit, and a whole lot of teamwork. Stay tuned—Women Build Planes may just “take off” into the world of ice cream! 🚀🍦

Beth White

Education Possibilitarian, Artist, Writer, Doula, Mentor, Aviatrix, Breast Cancer Survivor, Pilot-in-Command at Habitat for Aviation


In the spring of 2022, Beth White emerged from a 10-month battle with breast cancer with an idea: to create an apprenticeship program at Franklin County State Airport where youth work alongside adult mentors servicing conventional and electric aircraft. A pilot and airplane mechanic apprentice herself, and with family roots in the trades, Habitat for Aviation provides an taxilane for world learning opportunities for youth and adults who love to work with their hands to enter the FAA’s apprenticeship certification track. Each day she puts systems in place that make real John Dewey’s philosophy that we “learn best what we live” – a deep throughline from her time at Antioch University New England and as Regional Director for Big Picture Learning. Each learning experience is grounded in relationships, relevance, and practice. In October, 2023, Habitat for Aviation launched its Women Build Planes program, where an all-female team of Modern Day Rosies is building an airplane at Franklin County Airport, in northwestern Vermont, to show folks everywhere that despite the fact that only 2.6% of airplane mechanics are female, women BUILD, FLY, and FIX airplanes.

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