Mr. Erik Fleming

Entrepreneur
Committees: Building

Erik Fleming owns and operates two farms in Hardwick, Massachusetts with Olympic equestrian gold medalist Torrance Watkins. Totaling more than 615 acres of pristine pastures, hayfields, and woodlands, Morningfield Farm trains intermediate and advanced riders and horses. In 2007, Mr. Fleming and Ms. Watkins completed construction of a state-of-the-art eighteen-stall stable, and plans are currently underway for the construction of an indoor arena in an effort to become a complete training facility. 

From 2000 to 2004, Mr. Fleming and Ms. Watkins hosted the Over the Walls Horse Trials, one of the premier horse trials in the United States. In 2004, Over the Walls was one of only four World Cup qualifiers in the United States, an event that saw the nation’s best horses and riders compete for the right to represent the United States at the 2004 Eventing World Cup Finals in Pau, France. In addition to hosting the USEA Gold Cup Series in 2004, Over the Walls also hosted the United States Equestrian Team and the Canadian Equestrian Federation for their final run before leaving for Great Britain to compete in the prestigious Burghley Three-Day Event. The Canadians also chose Over the Walls as their final selection trials for the 2000 Olympic Games held in Sydney, Australia.

Prior to moving to Hardwick in 1995, Mr. Fleming served as president of both the Fleming Corporation and Legend Airways Inc. These companies primarily focused on aviation services (leasing, freight operations, corporate promotions/hospitality) and real estate development. Mr. Fleming holds a commercial pilot's license and for eight years performed in air shows involving single-engine biplane aerobatics and large multi-engine WWII aircraft. He also competed in and judged aerobatic flight contests on a national level and served as an instructor pilot in aerobatics.

Mr. Fleming is a member of the Hardwick Planning Board and former chairman of the Hardwick Master Planning Committee and the Hardwick Zoning Bylaw Committee. He is also a former board member of the Worcester County Farm Bureau, the Hardwick Farmers Exchange, the Hardwick Conservation Trust, and the United States Aerobatic Team.