Our Mission
The Homestead Farm Center Project, a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization founded in 2014, is dedicated to opening opportunities to individuals with disabilities to work, learn, live, and thrive in a rural farm setting. Located on 100 acres of the historic Thomas Steele farm in beautiful Taylor County, West Virginia, the farm center offers educational opportunities and work experience in agricultural industries to clients with developmental disabilities. Homestead Farm Center’s RURAL (Rural to Urban Agricultural Learning) Initiative is designed to help individuals with disabilities to grow in independence, career readiness, and overall well-being through training in agriculture, organic gardening, environmental stewardship, health and wellness, cooking, and nutrition. RURAL helps participants apply the skills they have gained at the Homestead Farm Center to their everyday lives. In addition, our clients work on improving their own health and wellness and have access to recreational activities with their peers and families. Donations are tax deductible.
HFC 11th Anniversary BBQ Dinner
Join us on August 16, 2025 from 4-7 pm to celebrate 11 years of service to individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. We will host our annual BBQ dinner with pulled pork and grilled chicken, live music, drawings and raffles, and a short program honoring our summer participants and highlighting their accomplishments. Tickets are available from any HFC staff or board member, and also at the Disability Action Center in Fairmont. This event marks the end of our summer RURAL season and is a fun evening for participants, supporters, and families. Adults $30, Children 3-12 $15, under 3 free admission. Proceeds will help raise funds to build the RURAL Workshop to complete our facility and allow year round programming at the farm center.
RURAL PROGRAM 2025
April 4 – Spring session for returning RURAL trainees, Fridays only, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
April 30 – New RURAL trainees applications due. Available at the DAC.
June 4 – Summer session, Wednesdays – Fridays, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
We are excited to begin our 2025 RURAL season! Our trainees will help with planting, maintaining and eventually harvesting the garden. We will be experimenting with some new fruits and vegetables this year including asparagus, rhubarb, bok choy, and more. New farm skills we will be exploring this year include working with wool, silk screen printing and candle making. It will be another fun summer with lots of activities to keep us busy… hope to see you at the farm!
DONORS
We would like to thank recent donors to Homestead Farm Center for their support of our programs: Nexstar Media Incorporated, West Virginia University Foundation, Hope Gas, Your Community Foundation of NCWV Incorporated, First Energy Foundation, Freedom Kia of Morgantown, Bernard McDonough, Corridor Chapter of WV Autism Society, ACI Tygart Valley Mining Corporation-Leer Mine and our many individual contributors.
Special thanks to Freedom Kia of Morgantown for selecting Homestead Farm Center for the SECOND time as a recipient of the “Giving Back ” program. This is a great example of a local business supporting a local need, your $8,200 in total donations will go towards building our workshop. https://freedomkia.net/charities
Upcoming Events at Homestead Farm Center
RURAL Farm Program
Volunteer to work alongside our RURAL farm trainees this summer. Great garden experience and a host of interesting activities.
Contact HFC to register
Lambfest 2025
May 10, 2025 Featuring our petting zoo, kid’s carnival games, crafts, and plant sales in our greenhouse. Free admission. Come join us and celebrate spring with our new lambs.
Fall Festival at the Farm
November 2, 2024
from 10-12:30
Come out to the farm and enjoy some kid’s activities, shop our Christmas crafts, eat some pork barbecue and hot dogs, sip on some apple cider or hot chocolate and visit our sheep in their winter coats. FREE ADMISSION!
Phone
304-366-3213
homesteadfarmcenter@gmail.com
Address
1039 Burns Farm Road, Grafton, WV 26354