The Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce announced the recipients of its 2025 Annual Awards during a celebratory evening on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at The Oaks Grandview. Sponsored by leading businesses in the region, these honors recognize individuals and organizations for outstanding contributions to the Greater Rochester area.
Non-Profit of the Year: New Hampshire Farm Museum
The Non-Profit of the Year Award, presented by the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce, is one of the Chamber’s most prestigious business honors. Sponsored by Living Innovations, the award is given to a nonprofit organization that demonstrates excellence in both operations and community engagement. It also recognizes a Chamber member that has made a significant impact on the betterment of the Greater Rochester area.
At the Chamber’s Annual Awards Celebration, held on Wednesday evening, May 21, 2025, at The Oaks Grandview Ballroom, the Chamber proudly presented the 2025 Non-Profit of the Year Award to the New Hampshire Farm Museum.
Located in Milton, New Hampshire, the New Hampshire Farm Museum was founded in 1969 by a group of farmers and an agricultural extension agent concerned about the rapid loss of agricultural tools, traditions, and knowledge. Initially, the museum operated out of barns and storefronts across Rockingham and Strafford Counties, amassing a diverse collection of farm implements and artifacts. In 1979, the museum secured the 28-acre Jones Farm property and later expanded in 1994 by acquiring the adjacent Plummer Homestead, bringing the total to 50 acres. Today, the museum serves as a living history center, offering visitors an immersive experience of New Hampshire’s agricultural past through its preserved buildings, working farm, and extensive historical collections.
The museum offers a wide array of educational programs that engage the community and promote rural heritage. Programs like “The Ox-Cart Man: Farms & Families at Work” introduce students to 18th-century farm life through hands-on activities such as butter-making, animal care, and exploring historical tools. The “Stories on the Farm” series provides weekly storytelling sessions for families, featuring tales rooted in New Hampshire’s history.
Deeply committed to community involvement, the Farm Museum hosts festivals, craft fairs, and farm-to-table events that celebrate local culture and bring people together. It also provides volunteer opportunities for youth and adults alike, including internships and docent roles that foster intergenerational learning. Collaborations with schools, veterans’ groups, and civic organizations help extend the museum’s reach through tailored tours and service projects. By opening its historic grounds to the public and offering inclusive programming, the museum has become a vital hub for education, recreation, and community pride.
Caroline Plummer Butler, a member of the Plummer Farm family, shared: “The programs are run by dedicated, well-trained volunteers. If you have never visited the New Hampshire Farm Museum, I strongly encourage you to do so. It is a step back in time that appeals to all ages. In addition to the many school groups that visit, there are weekend programs and events that attract a wide following from across New Hampshire and beyond. It is clearly a tourist destination.”
In recognition of its dedication to preserving New Hampshire’s agricultural heritage, the museum was awarded a $7,500 grant from The 1772 Foundation, in partnership with the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance, in 2022. This grant supported critical restoration work on the Jones Farm, including exterior painting, window restoration, and foundation repairs—ensuring continued access to and preservation of the site. In 2022, 2023, and 2024, the museum also received a Governor’s Citation for outstanding contributions to preserving state history. In 2025, Program Director Janet Hotchkiss was honored with inclusion in Who’s Who of American Women. These accolades are among many that recognize the museum’s enduring value and impact.
Annie, Jock, and Brett McKenzie of McKenzie’s Farm in Milton shared, “Our farm has been involved with the New Hampshire Farm Museum for 35 years and have seen it become an integral part of the community. Its membership has increased 25% since 2021, showing that more people recognize what a great asset it is.”
Susann Foster Brown noted, “The New Hampshire Farm Museum is a unique treasure. Strafford County—including Rochester, Milton, and surrounding communities—has all benefited from the museum’s inclusion in 1979 on the National Register of Historic Places.”
The Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce is proud to recognize the New Hampshire Farm Museum for its excellence in nonprofit leadership, educational innovation, historic preservation, and community service. We are pleased to present the 2025 Non-Profit of the Year Award to this extraordinary organization.
Matt Wyatt of the Rochester Museum of Fine Arts, last year’s recipients, was on hand to present this year’s award.