History:
Quonquont (or Quan Quan) was a 17th-century Native American leader who lived along the Connecticut River. His name appears on the 1672 deed to lands in North Hatfield and Whately.
The first building on the farm property was a wayside tavern built in 1759. In the early 1800s, our brook was dammed to power a tannery. By 1860, our farm was raising dairy and beef cattle, as well as tobacco.
In 1920, the property became the Quonquont Stock and Dairy Farm, a nationally known breeder of Holstein-Friesian cattle. The giant Quonquont milk bottle (now located on the Whately town common) was originally part of a restaurant on Routes 5&10 that offered milk, cream, and other dairy treats. In summer, ice cream was served from the giant bottle—a tradition that continues today during Whately festivals.
In the early 1970s, Howard Hoxie planted today’s apple, peach, and blueberry orchards. The farm’s current owners bought the 140-acre property in 2000, continuing Mr. Hoxie’s tradition of growing wholesome fruit for local families. In 2011, we completed renovations to our 19th century stock barn and opened the lovely and historic property for special events.
Mission:
At Quonquont Farm, we are dedicated to stewarding our land, connecting our community to healthy food, and making every guest the center of celebration.
Values:
We have a set of core values that everyone involved in Quonquont Farm shares and works every day to uphold. They are:
Community: We affirm our connection to our town, region, and land through philanthropy, stewardship, and a spirit of welcome.
Professionalism: We conduct ourselves with the highest standards of excellence in all interactions.
Optimism: We meet challenges with enthusiasm and a can-do attitude.
Creativity: We embrace new ideas and strive for informed originality.
Teamwork: We work in a way that gets results through cohesive action and interdependence.
