Litchfield Group Successfully Completes Grant Project

The state Department of Agriculture recently reported that the Litchfield County Cooperative Extension Service Association (LCCESA) has completed its work on a $25,000 Agricultural Enhancement Grant the organization received in 2025. The Arethusa Farm Foundation partnered with the LCCESA to run the initial year of the “Arethusa Farm 4-H Camp.”

The grant from the Department of Agriculture helped to fund the purchase of equipment and materials for youth agricultural education including materials to construct, fill, and plant raised beds; egg incubators; seed trays; wheelbarrows; stable forks; livestock fence panels; livestock collars/leads; ear tags; a livestock scale, and more. According to information released by the department, during the summer of 2025, the camp enrolled 360 campers ages 5-13 for 10 weeks of hands-on ag education at the Arethusa Farm Foundation property.

The Agricultural Enhancement Grant Program (previously known as the Farm Viability Grant) provides matching funds to Connecticut municipalities, groups of municipalities, regional councils of governments, and/or agricultural non-profit organizations for projects that directly impact and/or foster agricultural viability. All projects funded by the Agricultural Enhancement Grant must advance farming and agriculture as defined by Connecticut General Statutes Section 1-1(q).

Congratulations to all on a job well done!