BACON HILL FARM TOUR
Bill & Clint inspecting new barn construction
Barber Brothers Dairy
Data Barn
280 cows
350 youngstock
1200 crop acres
crops: corn, alfalfa
Black Orchid Stables
Data Barn
50 Morgan Horses
Clint Barber Barber Brothers Dairy [Mile 9.7]
Bill and Alton Barber established this dairy in 1939. Today, Bill’s son Clint manages the 280 cow dairy herd, along with Clint’s son, Chad, and brother Tom and nephew Bill. "Relatives make reliable labor," Clint says with a smile. The farm is one of the largest producers of milk for Stewart’s shops, the local chain of dairy-oriented convenience stores. Barber Brothers Dairy alone produces enough milk in one year to supply residents of Saratoga Springs with milk for one full-year (4 million pounds).
Clint and his brother enjoy the independence of farming. Still, "Today’s farmers tend to be larger and more specialized," Clint says, and "The larger you get, the bigger the problems." He enjoys living in an agricultural community because neighbors are always willing to help. "When the Fosters’ barn burned, local farmers got together to help plant his crops. When Lyle Purinton was hurt in a farm accident, we all came together to help harvest his corn." And, most recently, when the Barber’s lost one of the original barns and 25 calves to a fire, the local FFA chapter donated calves to the family.
Percy McDaniel, Morgan Horse
Trainer
Black Orchid Stables [Mile
9.9]
Clint and Linda Barber established Black Orchid Stables in 1990 to breed, train and show
Morgan Horses. The farm grew along with their daughter Courtney’s interest in riding
horses for sport. The family travels extensively throughout New England to show their
animals and promote Morgan breeding. The horse barn features an indoor riding arena,
breeding laboratory for artificial insemination and stalls for thirty horses. Morgan
horses, first and oldest of America’s light horse breeds, are known for their
showmanship diversity featuring show classes in Western, Saddle, Carriage and Pleasure
Driving.
This stand of trees serves as a buffer between the farmland on the left and the development of homes across the road on the right.
Abraham Marshall home [Mile 10.5]
Abraham Marshall and his wife Eliza purchased this farm from James McCreedy in 1837. Five
generations of the Marshall descendents occupied the house, including the Bean family who
reside here today.
Map4
