Eccardt Farm

About the Farm

Eccardt Farm is a fourth-generation family operation with roots tracing back to the 1940s, when Margretha and Rudolph Eccardt emigrated from Switzerland through Ellis Island. After working in New York City, they discovered and purchased what was then a 2,000-bird chicken farm in New Hampshire's Washington valley. Hans Eccardt later joined them, bringing his fiancé, and together they transformed the property into a thriving dairy operation that would define the family's legacy for decades to come.

Over the next thirty years, the farm flourished and expanded dramatically, eventually milking over 210 cows twice daily with a full crew of employees handling the demanding schedule of milking and crop management. However, when the dairy industry faced economic challenges in 2009, the Eccardt family made the difficult but strategic decision to downsize their operation. They sold half their dairy herd, retired the elder generation, and reduced their workforce to just four employees while pivoting toward a more diversified agricultural model.

Today, the farm represents a harmonious blend of tradition and innovation under the stewardship of the current Eccardt family: George, Sandy, Ryan, Amy, Kristi, and Phil. They now milk about 45 cows while operating a thriving farm store that has served the community for nearly 15 years, focusing on locally-sourced New Hampshire products. The family has embraced agritourism, hosting farmers markets, jeep shows, UTV rides, movie nights, and seasonal celebrations that have earned enthusiastic community support. Their commitment to maintaining an all-natural operation without BST or hormones, combined with their reputation for exceptional cleanliness and animal care, reflects their dedication to providing healthy products from their farm to local tables.