Eastern States Exposition (ESE) debuts another installment in their Agriculture is Our Culture video series on Monday, May 4. The subjects of this springtime special are Dave and Cindy Westover of Great Brook Farm, a multigenerational sugarhouse nestled in the deciduous woods of Walpole, N.H.
“Every year is different, but on a good year we’ll produce 700 gallons of maple syrup,” said Dave Westover, who owns and operates Great Brook Farm with his wife, Cindy, and son, Andy. However, it was Cindy’s ancestors that first began Great Brook Farm.
The farm was founded 10 generations ago, in 1761, on a 170-acre property. They were once a dairy farm with cows and crops sold at an on-site farm store. Now, they are a dedicated state-of-the-art maple syrup producer that values quality, education and community above all. Their product is distributed at a handful of nearby vendors and served in nearby restaurants.
The farm serves memorable experiences and teachable moments as much as it does delicious syrup; they offer tastings, public and private tours, demonstrations and schools visits throughout the year. An example of one of their traditions is Maple Weekend, where they host sugarhouse tours, syrup sampling and a hearty pancake breakfast, just like Maple Harvest Day & Pancake Breakfast at Storrowton Village Museum at Eastern States Exposition.
“Farming is having a hard time,” said Cindy Westover, “especially small farms. Agriculture is a huge part of the Eastern States Exposition, and the promotion of agriculture helps out the small farm.”
In addition to owning Great Brook Farm, Cindy Westover is a proud ESE Trustee. Her background in farming makes her passionate about the not-for-profit’s mission to advance agriculture and preserve New England heritage, often by the same means that she and her family do in Walpole.
Great Brook Farm takes part in the New Hampshire Seal of Quality program because their product meets the rigorous, state-monitored standards for density, color and flavor. This seal is not mandated, but it is a huge acknowledgment through the New Hampshire Maple Producers Association and a testament to the diligence of the Westovers in honoring their mission.
To remain true to their other tenets of education and community, Great Brook Farm donates 10% of gross receipts from syrup sales between Thanksgiving and Christmas to the Fall Mountain Educational Endowment Association to support local schools and enrichment programs.
Dave added, “The family farms—whether they’re making cheese, producing milk or making maple syrup—if they don’t have this tradition of maintaining family-run maple operations, what’s going to be left someday is corporate producers, and you lose that local flavor. When you buy syrup from any of us, you are supporting a small, local business.”
Consider supporting New England agriculture by visiting hands-on farming sites, shopping in the Eastern States Farmers Market in West Springfield, Mass., and attending the year-round events found at EasternStatesExposition.com, which support the future of farming and agricultural innovation. And, of course, check out or social media to see the full video on the Westovers and Great Brook Farm.