FARM TOUR 2011
Saturday, September 24, 2011
10AM - 4PM
This year marks the 14th year of the Butler County Farm Tour. Agriculture in Butler County employs nearly 2,000 men and women in a wide range of enterprises. They produce over $43,000,000 worth of food, timber and other agricultural products. This year’s Butler County Farm Tour includes four stops in central Butler County. The host families and volunteer staff will be available to direct you and answer questions. For more information, contact the Butler County Cooperative Extension Office at 724-287-4761 x227 or the Butler County Conservation District at 724-284-5270.
Tour Details
• This is a free, drive-it-yourself tour
• Please limit your visits to hours indicated
• Feel free to visit the stops in any order
• Be courteous and drive/park only where directed
• Make sure all trash is disposed of responsibly
• Do Not Smoke at any of the farm stops
• Portable, handicapped accessible rest room facilities will be located at each stop
• Leave any pets at home or in the car
Door Prize Drawing
Win a basket of Butler County farm products! To enter, pick up a FARM TOUR PASSPORT at any information table, have it stamped at all farms, and deposit it in a Door Prize Box on Tour Day.
Hey Kids!
In addition to all of the other fun and exciting things you’ll see and learn, check out the special activities just for you!
2011 FARMS
Lesney Farm
135 Lesney Lane
Butler, PA 16001
Phone# 724-282-4884
The Lesney Family Farm is a 94 acre Dairy Farm located near Mt. Chestnut. John Lesney, Steve Lesney’s Grandfather, started the farm operation in 1919. The Lesneys now farm a total of 900 acres of cropland. Steve Lesney has made many improvements through the years, to make the farm an efficient operation.
Grain is the principal product of the Lesney Farm. The Lesney herd includes 45 milk cows and 25 calves. There are horses to see on the farm. The Lesney’s grow various crops including corn, soybeans and alfalfa.
The Lesney Farm is enrolled in the Butler County Conservation Easement Program which preserves farmland for future generations.
Metrick’s Harvest View Farm and Market
143 Eagle Mill Road
Butler, PA 16001
Phone# 724-282-8038
Diversity is an important feature of this operation which incorporates both production and direct marketing into a successful farm enterprise.
The relatively small size of the Metrick Farm, consisting of 28 owned and 10 leased acres, does not limit the wide range of agricultural products they products they produce and sell throughout the year. Depending on the season, the Farm Market features sweet corn, peppers, tomatoes, potatoes and pumpkins, as well as brown eggs and honey, all of which are produced right on the farm. Bulk foods, jams and jellies, and salad dressings can also be purchased, as well as beef, pork, lamb and pastured poultry.
On Farm Tour Day, visitors are able to view honey production in an observation bee hive. A cider press is in operation.
The Metrick Farm participates in the Butler County Conservation Easement Program to preserve farmland for the future.
Daubenspeck Farm
Connoquenessing Township
Renfrew, PA 16053
Phone# 724-290-6724
Known by friends, family and neighbors in Connoquenessing Township as the “Stevenson Farm” is the place called home for Guy and Carol Daubenspeck. Guy and his wife Carol have been farming since 2005. Guy Daubenspeck is the fourth generation of his family on his mother’s side, to work the land.
The farm is comprised of 226 acres, 91 acres are tillable. Once a dairy farm, (from 1918 to 1998) they now operate a 50 head cow/calf to finish beef operation. They also sell hay, grain and custom mixed livestock feeds. The Daubenspeck Farm is considered a licensed feed mill by the PA Department of Agriculture and service home poultry flocks, horses and cattle in the surrounding area. Guy and Carol both work off the farm as well as farm, but receive help from their father and one hired part-time employee, a neighbor high school student.
The Daubenspeck Farm partipates in the Butler County Conservation Easement Program to preserve their precious farmland.
Brenckle’s Farms and Greenhouses
543 Evans City Road
Route #68
Butler, PA 16001
Phone# 724-482-2353
The Brenckle’s Butler Greenhouse is conveniently located on Evans City Road (Route #68) near the Butler Farm Show and Meridian. Recently, the entire greenhouse has been remodeled with wider isles, new flooring and a greater selection of products and accessories to meet everyone’s gardening needs. Everywhere you look, indoors or outside, the varieties, color and selection of quality plants, flowers, herbs and vegetables is almost endless. Fresh produce arrives daily from the farm.
At Brenckle’s Farms and Greenhouses they know plants. Whether you are looking at flowers, a houseplant, a fern, yard and garden plants or fresh home-grown produce, it is the place to see.
Annually, the Brenckle’s plant, grow and stock more varieties of healthy heirloom plants for the home gardener than anyone within a multi-state area. The Brenckle Family is anxious to meet you during the 14th Annual Butler County Farm Tour!
