Billings Farm and Museum (Final Project Part 1)

Billings Farm and Museum in Woodstock, Vermont is a working dairy farm and museum dedicated to the exploration of farm life in Vermont in the 1890s and the conservation efforts of Frederick Billings when he founded the farm in 1871. A native Vermonter, Billings was concerned with the state of Vermont farming at the time, which was focused on short term profits rather than long-term care for land and animals. Billings started the farm intending it to be an example for other farmers in Vermont. He started a reforestation program for the surrounding area and a breeding program for the Jersey cattle at the farm and succeeded in founding not only a great farm but also a leader for agriculture in the state.

The museum was founded in this spirit of conservation and education, creating exhibits in the old barns that depict the lives, activities, and values of Vermont farmers in the late 1800s. The farmhouse, built in 1890 for the original farm manager, has been restored into a house museum which recreates a typical (upscale) farmhouse of the time, including a working kitchen. The farm has a herd of over sixty Jersey cattle, a small flock of Southdown sheep, draft horses, and oxen, all of which the public can view and learn about through interactive programs given daily during the open season.

The farm and museum are fairly accessible, having elevators and ramps available across the property. Tours through the exhibits are self-guided, with written explanations of objects and scenes. There are tours for the farmhouse and various programs which feature the animals, aspects of farm life in the late 1800s, and crafts and projects. Event days occur multiple times a month, with special days dedicated to sheep shearing, baby animals, tractors, and a large celebration for the Fourth of July. There are also weekly events, including "Wagon Ride Wednesdays" and "Time Travel Tuesdays," which each feature a different activity.

The Museum also has a library and archives which features literature and collections focusing on farm life in the late 1800s and the conservation movement in Vermont.