Eastern States Exposition’s (ESE) “Agriculture is Our Culture” initiative celebrates the agrarian spirit of New England with a video series centered around local farmers and their commitment to the region: “Stories from the Farm.” On Monday, October 27, the series resumes with a feature on Yankee Rock Farm of Orwell, Verm.
In 2025, ESE welcomed 3,069 4-Hers and 4,098 FFA youths to The Big E for livestock competitions, horse shows, market auctions and more. As a national authority on agriculture and a mecca for the rising generation, it is critical that ESE paves the way and uses its platform to promote the farmers that give their all to sustaining our communities across New England.
Yankee Rock Farm was founded by sweethearts brought together by a shared passion for showing competitive livestock and living their days in bucolic bliss. Siri Swanson grew up along the southern coast of Mass. She eagerly anticipated summertime trips to her uncle’s scenic farm in the shadow of the Green Mountains and knew from an early age that she would call the region home one day. When she first began showing livestock, her personality bloomed and she came alive.
Colin Siegmund of Central Mass. grew up in 4-H, first showing “gateway livestock” like rabbits before graduating to larger mammals like sheep. When Siegmund met Polly Hopkins, a shepherd from R.I., through his 4-H club, he found a teacher, friend and mentor that would lead him to a life of lambing, shearing, showing and otherwise raising a flock of his own.
Mutual interests found Swanson and Siegmund at many of the same events, including a fateful sheep sale in Ohio where a spark turned into a flame that burned all the way back to the East Coast. For five years, the couple merged their separate flocks to the best of their abilities, but Yankee Rock Farm became tangible in 2024 when they purchased “the old Rutter farm” in Champlain Valley, Verm. The rest is modern history.
When met with the bleating of the sheep, the wear of the wool and the tender story of partners in business and life, the ESE team was charmed by Yankee Rock Farm. To become better acquainted with Siegmund, Swanson and their Cheviot-based ewes, seek out their video on EasternStatesExposition.com or find us on social media.
Interested in supporting fiber farmers like Siri and Colin? Consider attending The Fiber Festival of New England at ESE’s Mallary Complex in West Springfield, Mass., November 1 & 2. Adult tickets are available at EasternStatesExposition.com and admission for children 12 and under is free.