Strong Family Farm Gets a Face Lift!

Thanks to a matching grant from the 1772 Foundation which is administered by CT Trust for Historic Preservation, big yellow barn in Vernon Center is having damaged side boards repaired and new coats of paint. Work started on the 100 year old barn this week to give it a face lift and preserve it for many years to come. This is the second 1772 Foundation grant that the farm has received, with the last one replacing the deteriorating barn windows.

Built in 1917 by N. Morgan Strong, the farm is an icon in Vernon Center originally as a dairy barn for the 60+ cows that were milked daily. In more current times, it is most noted for its 50 years of growing turkeys by farmer Norman Strong. When Norman Strong passed in 2010, good neighbors, family and friends stepped forward to save the farm by turning it into a nonprofit to provide a historic agricultural education center where children, families, individuals and community groups can experience an authentic family farm environment. This year marks Strong Family Farm's 8 year in fulfilling it's mission and opening doors to all in many different farm venues such as backyard chicken program, garden classes, raised beds, a scarecrow contest, and coming up Oct 19th, a Harvest Festival. For more information like Strong Family Farm on Facebook or check out the website at http://www.strongfamilyfarm.org.