Hidden Gems of North-Central Connecticut

SUFFIELD, CT — An historic fourth-generation dairy farm which has recently expanded, opened a retail store and even promotes offerings from neighboring farms is the subject of the latest installment of a periodic series on Patch sites in north-central Connecticut highlighting "hidden gems" throughout the region.

Hastings Farm is located on over 270 acres of land at 472 Hill Street in Suffield, a long, winding road which serves as a connector from Route 168, or Mountain Road, to Agawam, Mass. The house was constructed in 1764, according to Suffield land records.

Howard Hastings diversified his family's tobacco farm by adding a small dairy herd. His son Richie grew the farm after assuming ownership of the property in 1957, and Richie's son Larry and daughter-in-law Susan expanded the dairy farm upon their purchase in 1990.

Megan and Lauren, the fourth generation of Hastings to dairy farm, are carrying on the family tradition while trying to make it their own. In recent years, they have diversified the farm from strictly dairy production, and expanded into natural beef and the processing of their own milk.

In the winter of 2011, a retail store was built at the farm, offering natural beef and dairy products, including whole and chocolate milk, nine flavors of Greek yogurt, ice cream and six types of cheese (sold by the pound). Seasonal offerings include not only products from Hastings, but also from other area farms.

Guests are encouraged to visit the calves and check out all aspects of farm production, including the "milking robot." When a cow enters the milking unit, usually through a treat incentive, a sensor reads a transponder on the animal and passes the cow ID to the control system. Automatic teat cleaning, milking cup application, milking and teat spraying takes place if the cow is ready to be milked.

Store hours at Hastings Farm are Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

This series features out-of-the-way mom and pop restaurants, small specialty stores you may have never heard of, little-known historical markers or beautiful nature spots that may be a bit off the beaten path. Do you have a favorite "hidden gem" in the area that you wish to see featured in this column? Email your ideas to tim.jensen@patch.com.

Other columns in this series:

• Liquid Nirvana
• Iwo Jima Survivors Memorial Park
• Academy Hall
• Southington Drive-In
• Little Theatre of Manchester at Cheney Hall
• Somersvillage Gifts & Gourmet Baskets
• New England Civil War Museum
• The Pinchot Sycamore
• Stafford Palace Theater
• Mansfield Hollow State Park
• Old Tolland County Jail and Museum
• Hill-Stead Museum
• Mark's Restaurant