As the farm evolves to the future, one thing will always remain the same - the Ames Farm is our family gathering place. As current stewards of the land and homestead, we are working hard to ensure its lasting legacy. We have a long way to go. And we welcome everyone along for the ride! When you can't join us in person at the farm, follow us on social media to see what's going on. (Or just call and check-in to ask!!)
The planning and development never ends, but we are working towards a strong strategic focus and making sound progress. Our focus is on securing the Ames Farm as a place to "Gather and Cultivate Quality of Life for Generations" - past generations, people of all ages and generations yet to come. Our emphasis is to
- Keep Farming: The Ames Farm is a farm, and always will be;
- Embrace Life: An ecosystem of quality for life of all kinds;
- Remember When: Always celebrating our past, last century and yesterday.
Our guardrails, or perhaps our fence lines, come in the form of our Strategic Priorities. And we will make our decisions based on the prime directive of maintaining the farm for generations to come - creating self-sustaining operations enabling future generations to also protect and enjoy the Ames Farm . . . and let them carry on the stories of their past generations.
Join us on the journey!!
For over 125 years the Ames Farm was a working dairy, raising and caring for a friendly herd of Holsteins. During that time, four generations of Ames continued to grow and improve the farm.
The Ames Farm is our collective legacy that we will strive to protect for generations to come.
The big red Dairy Barn was the first structure on the farm, built with large virgin trees milled from the land. Later, during Charles Brunson Ames' era, the barn was extended to expand the herd. To this day, you can still hold the hand tools used to build the barn.
The next generations
4th - Chuck
6th - Steve
7th - Alex
gather
SIX Generations and Counting
In 1856, at the age of 15, Ezra Wales Ames moved to Chautauqua County to work with is uncle Wilbur in the lumber industry. Leaving their childhood home on Ames Hill Road in Marlboro, Vermont, Wilbur & Ezra made their fortunes around Chautauqua County producing lumber until the Panic of 1873. After the financial depression, Ezra took his remaining savings and in 1879 purchased land outside of Falconer, New York and began clearing it until it was "one of the finest farms in the county." Thus started the 1st generation of the Ames Farm off Peck Settlement Road.
The Ames Farm
Since 1879 - A Legacy of Generations
Then, in 1964, the father and son Charles's commissioned the building of the white Heifer Barn. The Heifer Barn was built by just two people, one hired master builder and young Richard Ames, Chuck's nephew who was up from Wilmington, DE for the summer. While Grandma Lillie complained it blocked her view, it helped further expand the herd as young Chuck continued to grow the operation. Later, Chuck also added the red tin Tool Shed to house the growing tractors and field equipment (also blocking Grandma Lillie's views).
After 86 years of overseeing for the Ames Farm, spending his whole life in the same bedroom, Uncle Chuck peacefully passed in March of 2023.
The original house plans
As the 4th generation farmer, "Uncle Chuck" retired from milking in 2002. For another five years a neighbor farmer continued milking in the parlor and then the barns remained filled a few more years, housing neighbor dairy farmers' heifers which Chuck oversaw and provided his expert care.
In 2012, on Uncle Chuck's birthday, the farm quietly changed hands as Uncle Chuck sold the farm to his great nephew Stephen Wooters. With lifetime rights, Chuck remained the boss at the Ames Farm as work started to set-up for the NEXT 145 years. While dairy farming has evolved and it will take some time to transition the farm for the future, Steve delights in looking ahead to transitioning the Ames Farm to the 7th generation.
169 acres. But not just a farm, it's our family legacy. Everyone who knew Uncle Chuck knew he always had a story. And the Ames Farm is all about the stories. Come hear 'em, live 'em, share 'em and remember 'em. As our family gathering place, learn more about the Ames Farm and come make your own memories.
The Land also continued to expand as Grandpa Charlie purchased 8 acres along the north fields and then young Chuck, early in his reign, took out a loan to buy the 20 acres along Buffalo Street Extension, bringing the farm to its current 169 acres.
come gather . . .
In the early 1890's, construction began on the elegant Farm House. The five bedroom homestead was situated on the knoll to catch the summer breezes while faced eastward to protect from the winter winds. Built to last, the home is covered with a slate roof and constructed with the same bricks you will see on many streets in nearby Jamestown. While many updates have been made through the generations, the iconic flow of the home remain its enduring charm.