Locals in Litchfield County are already familiar with Arethusa Farm’s delectable dairy products, but the rest of the nation is taking notice. Arethusa’s Europa, an aged Gouda, made news earlier this year when the United States Championship Cheese Contest named it the best cheese in the country, defeating even Wisconsin favourites with a 98.739/100 score. But Arethusa is much more than award-winning cheese, and it’s poised to embark on an exciting new phase.
The historic farm that began it all is only a few kilometres from Arethusa’s famed eateries on Bantam Road. Arethusa Farm, once a dairy farm managed by the Webster family from 1968 to 1982, was bought in 1999 by Tony Yurgaitis and his late partner, George Malkemus.
Their first plan was to safeguard the abandoned property from development, create a small personal vegetable garden, and rent the remainder of the land to local farmers — that is, until they became interested in raising dairy cows. Arethusa Farm grew into a world-class dairy farm that supplied many restaurants and shops before expanding into sustainable farming, greenhouses, and chicken coops. The Connecticut Trust honoured Yurgaitis and Malkemus with the Trustees’ Award for Stewardship in 2018 for their 19 years of dedication to conserving the farms and its historic structures. Much of that property is now being utilised to educate the next generation of farmers and land stewards.
In a press release issued on April 5, 2023, the Region 6 school district announced the formation of the Arethusa Farm Foundation, a nonprofit organisation that will be Yurgaitis and Malkemus’ “lasting legacy to the Litchfield area community, and more particularly to the high school age students in Litchfield, Region 6, the forthcoming Region 20, and the Northwest Connecticut area.” The Foundation has received 125 acres of the Arethusa Farm property for use by students in Agriscience programmes as part of intensive Supervised Agricultural Experiences (SAEs). SAEs give a unique chance for Agriscience programmes to provide hands-on exposure to diverse agricultural practises to school-aged youngsters, making a future in agriculture more tangible and accessible. The Arethusa Farm Foundation will also establish an endowment to assist with the funding of the Agriscience programme.
“This is an incredible, generous donation that really opens up some great potential for our students,” Region 6 Superintendent Christopher Leone told The Winsted Citizen. “It would be difficult to find a campus of this size, and it has the potential to be an unrivalled programme.”
The Foundation, according to Yurgaitis, was a logical continuation of Arethusa’s legacy. “They [Leone and a group of local volunteers] made a presentation on how they would like to use the property, and it was really well thought out,” Yurgaitis said to The Winsted Citizen. “Agriscience programmes that support so many interested students seemed like a perfect way to preserve the land, both in terms of timing and usage.” I couldn’t think of a better way to hand over the property.”
According to Leone, the student reaction has been substantial. Working on Arethusa Farm not only provides a range of important SAEs, but the attractive, high-quality facilities are extremely alluring. “Arethusa Farm is a community landmark.” The students are excited about the prospect of working on this historic agricultural asset and guaranteeing its preservation.”
Wamogo Regional High School, which serves Morris, Warren, and Goshen, as well as students from neighbouring communities in Litchfield County who apply to the famous Agriculture Education Programme, has just recently begun utilising the Arethusa property. They are now preparing chicken coops, sowing seeds, and dealing with the day-to-day chores of a working farm, but Leone wants to soon be raising cattle and cultivating a range of crops: “The ultimate dream is self sufficiency and sustainability.” I’d love to see our pupils working to cultivate food for a school meal programme or manufacturing maple syrup to sell at the farmstand.”
It’s a massive job, but Leone and the agriscience team have a lot of support. “Tony [Yurgaitis] has been a rock throughout this.” He’s been generous not just with the land, but also with his soul and wisdom. His pride in the farm motivates all of us, and it is our goal to guarantee that heritage lives on.”
“I’m not just stepping away,” Yurgaitis said. “I want to be a part of it.” I know my way around the farm, and if there’s anything I can do to assist make this programme a success, I’m all in. “I’m ecstatic.”
Arethusa Farm’s heritage will live on thanks to the efforts of Yurgaitis, Leone, and other dedicated land conservationists and educators.
