Maintaining the historical legacy of Arethusa Farm while promoting leading agricultural practices and related innovations
The Arethusa Farm Foundation was established in 2023 to accept a generous gift from Anthony Yurgaitis– a significant portion of the Arethusa Farm property. The original vision included supporting the Agriculture Science and Technology program at the newly forming Region 20 school district. While that relationship didn’t come to fruition, the foundation remains deeply committed to providing hands-on agricultural education and meaningful programs for the surrounding communities.
Thanks to additional private contributions, the foundation was able to acquire the remaining portion of the original farm property, which now encompasses 164 acres and 19 buildings. In November 2024, the town gave its approval for the farm to be used as an educational resource, opening its doors for schools, 4-H programs, and local organizations to engage with agriculture and related skills in a truly special setting.
Although they have a shared history, the Arethusa Family Businesses are independent of the Arethusa Farm Foundation and its programming. The foundation looks forward to partnering with them to enhance future programming.
In the summer of 2025, the Arethusa Farm Foundation will host 10 weeks of summer camp opportunities offered by Litchfield County 4-H, for children aged 5-13. This program was proposed by Bill Davenport and made possible by a generous donation in support of 4-H and the Arethusa Farm Foundation. The camps will be agriculturally themed and will include 4-H and FFA student involvement as camp counselors throughout the summer. Topics to be covered include environmental science, farm animals, horticulture, small animals, ag mechanics and veterinary science. For information regarding registration, please click here.
