Agriculture & Natural Resources

Delaware County Farm Enhancement Grant Recipient:

Peaceful Valley Farm

     Peaceful Valley Farm, with its colorful herd adding beauty and character to the hillsides, embodies all that we think of when we hear “family farm”.  Nikki Sebastian, a 4^th generation dairy producer, strives to preserve her family’s heritage.  In 2016, after completing a bachelor’s degree at SUNY Morrisville, she made the commitment to revitalizing the farm her grandfather and mother had milked cows on until 2002.  She returned to the farm, built a herd of cows from the surrounding area, and began breathing life back into the farm. 

     With the assistance of the Delaware County Farm Enhancement Grant, Nikki was able to address much needed repairs to the barn roof.  The structure, built by her great-grandfather and expanded under her grandfather’s tenure, has been a labor of love for the family.  A unique three-story barn that houses the milking herd on the ground level, the young stock on the second tier and hay mow/ equipment storage on the third floor has served the family well over the years but was in dire need of repair and maintenance.  Nikki shared her deep appreciation for the ability to repair one and a half barn roofs with this grant, citing the vitality of a sound roof to the structural integrity of the building.  As a beginning farmer, with a keen interest in preserving her family’s legacy for future generations, this project was out of reach once COVID hit and input costs escalated.  Unfortunately, this project was also critical as there were places the roof had already fallen through and other areas that were in jeopardy.

     Without the Delaware County Farm Enhancement Grant, Peaceful Vally Farm would have been facing hard decisions to navigate through the challenges COVID presented, the infrastructure repairs needed, coupled with the vulnerabilities beginning farmers face.  The Sebastian family has much gratitude for the assistance they have received to continue to improve their facilities, keeping their farm vibrant in the Delaware County agricultural landscape now and in the future for the next generation.