Our Story
Coppal House Farm got its start in Stratham, NH 31 years ago as Coppal House Station, a small family farm run by John and Carol Hutton. They decided to make the move to a 78-acre piece of farmland in Lee, NH that was once a dairy farm, with just six sheep, two Belgian draft horses, three cats and a border collie. The farm name then changed from “station” to “farm” because of the unfamiliarity of the word “station”; a name for a large sheep farm in New Zealand. Knowing they would always use draft horses in their farming, the name “Coppal”, meaning horse in Gaelic, was chosen with the help of an Irish friend.
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Only months after moving to Lee, John and Carol started preparations for a corn maze. With only a folding table and an umbrella for a booth, the first Coppal House Farm corn maze opened in the fall of 2005. What used to exist only as an idea has flourished into a highly diversified, self-sustaining farm. Coppal House is now home to a flock of seventy-five Dorper Katahdin breeding ewes, five hundred heritage breed chickens of the laying and meat varieties, twenty-five hogs, three Belgian draft horses, three sentry cats, and two Great Pyrenees sheep-guarding dogs. Aside from the livestock, it also boasts a six-acre corn maze, the largest in seacoast NH, and a yearly sunflower festival which has carried the farm name into the surrounding states.
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Sheep are rotationally grazed on the pastural fields. Hogs are raised on grains grown on the property. Laying hens and roasters free range in selected areas. Belgian Draft horses plow and work the fields. A variety of crops are rotated around the farm from row crops to small grains, corn and oilseed. The public is encouraged to purchase farm fresh products from the farm stand and partake in the fall activities of the sunflower festival, corn maze, and pumpkin harvest.
Coppal House Farm holds itself to high standards, trying to keep all of its vistas scenic and beautiful. The animals are healthy and active, and the buildings are well maintained and upgrades are part of the growth plans for the farm. Guests always comment on the beauty of the farm. This farm has been in existence since the 1740’s and we try to maintain it’s historical integrity with modern functionality.
Meet the Farmers
John Hutton, Owner
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Check back for more on Farmer John once I can get him out of the field!
Carol Hutton, Owner
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Check back for more on Farmer Carol once I can get her out of the high tunnel!
Meghan Kelley, Farm Manager
An alumna from the University of New Hampshire, I found my love of farming in 2008 here at Coppal House Farm.