Photo by John Phelan

Prior to its sale in 2013, Tuttle’s Farm in New Hampshire, now known as the Tender Crop Farm at the Red Barn, operated as the oldest family-owned farm in the country. Overseen by 11 generations of Tuttles, the farm produced crops and livestock for the family and the surrounding community, going back to the late 1600s.

Let’s take a look at one of the oldest farms in the United States and the legacy that still perseveres today!

The History of Tuttle’s Farm

Arriving from England with a land grant sometime in the 1630s, John Tuttle established his modest farm between the Bellamy and Piscataqua Rivers on Dover Point in New Hampshire. What began as a single parcel would evolve and expand to encompass 240 acres at its peak. For over three and a half centuries, eleven generations of Tuttles adapted to the shifting agricultural and economic state of our growing nation. 

Initially just a subsistence farm, the family slowly began expanding their operation to supply neighboring towns with fresh produce and other commodities, transporting them via horse and buggy. There are incredible stories from over the years of the Tuttles clashing with local Native American tribes, supposedly selling maple syrup to Abraham Lincoln, and becoming a staple of their local community.

A Shift Toward Agri-Business

By the 20th century, the farm had grown into a diversified agricultural operation. In addition to traditional field crops like corn, squash, cucumbers, strawberries, and other produce, the farm developed infrastructure, including barns, greenhouses, and storage facilities. The centerpiece of this operation became the famed red barn, a now iconic landmark and the symbol of what many came to call America’s oldest family farm. 

In the later decades, under the stewardship of siblings Lucy Tuttle and Will Tuttle, the farm transformed from purely seasonal agriculture to a year-round business. A modern farm stand was built in 1987 to complement the old red barn, and the business expanded its offerings to incorporate produce, gourmet cheeses, baked goods, plants, and other retail items visitors could take home.

Preserving Tuttle Farm’s Legacy and the 2013 Sale

Despite its long heritage, economic pressures and changing agricultural realities eventually wore on the family farm. By 2010, facing stiff competition from supermarkets and larger farms, as well as the physical challenges of farming, the Tuttle family placed the farm on the market.

In November 2013, after 11 generations and nearly 380 years of continuous family ownership, Tuttle’s Farm was sold to a Massachusetts-based farmer, Matt Kozazcki. 

Kozazcki renamed the business Tendercrop Farm at the Red Barn and pledged to honor the farm’s legacy,  including installing a plaque to recognize the Tuttle family’s centuries of stewardship. Although the farm changed hands, a conservation easement sold in 2007 ensured that the land would be protected from development, preserving its agricultural character.

Today, the story of Tuttle’s Farm is one of enduring legacy and the value of farmland beyond price per acre. Crafted by many hands across time, this farm provided for not only the family but their broader community as well. If you’re interested in taking the first step toward establishing your family’s legacy, get in touch with your local Land Professional today!