Dear Friend of the Farmstead,

It has been quite a year.  I hope this finds you doing well, despite the continuing challenges we all face.

Past, present, future.  We look to the past to understand and celebrate our roots; the present to fulfill our purpose, and the future to deliver a legacy to those who follow us. 

Our past has been glorious!  We are recognized on the National and NJ Registrars of Historic Places and, in our short history, have received more than $2 million in grant funds to restore and repurpose this site, successfully opening and operating the Farmstead Arts Center.

In October we held a belated birthday party “A Celebration of History,” to celebrate 11 years of running the Art Center.  It was a magical “Farm-to-Table” Gala held on the restored foundation of the Dairy Barn that was completed just-in-time to provide usable (& COVID friendly) space for large, outdoor events.  A vibrant fundraising team leading an army of volunteers made this happen.  A special thanks to Chef Robert “Buddy” Dick and his friends from Les Marmitons, and to volunteers from Ridge High School and to all friends who volunteered, as well.

Today, we continue to prudently reopen, offering safe and meaningful art experiences.  While the pandemic continues to impact our theater group, we currently offer on-line and in-person classes, art exhibits, music and, this past month, a Holiday Boutique with unique and special gifts for purchase. 

Looking forward, we are very pleased to have just received new grant funds from the Somerset County Historic Preservation grant program to continue to restore the beautiful buildings, to improve ADA access to the barn and to pursue additional research to tell our story that includes the period that Dr. Gerald Pearson owned the property.  Dr. Pearson was a contributing inventor and patent holder of the solar panel.

But we need your help. While the future looks bright, the pandemic is still hurting us.  We are a volunteer organization with a passion for bringing history to life, and arts and culture to us all.  Funds raised go 100% towards operations, to keep the lights on and the programs running, and will help us bring more exciting programs to Farmstead Arts in the future. 

On behalf of our Board, we are deeply grateful for the support we have received already. Your generous contribution will enable us to continue to serve you and everyone in our community in the years to come.

Leslie Workman                     
President                                

The Friends of the Kennedy Martin Stelle Farmstead, Inc., is a tax-exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code.  Please note, the CARES Act of 2020 allows a deduction for charitable contributions of up to $300 even if you do not itemize deductions.  Please consult your individual legal or tax advisor for advice regarding your tax situation.