Dairy farm in Kent could become a classroom

KENT —  The town’s once bountiful farming tradition will see a modest revival.

South Kent School is working on plans to turn the Arno Farm on South Kent Road into a secondary campus.

The 421-acre property is the last dairy farm in Kent. It is owned by retired professor Detlev Vagts, and is listed for sale as two separate parcels by Bain Real Estate. One holding of  200 acres is listed at $2,500,000, the remaining 221 acres is listed at $3,300,000.

South Kent School Headmaster Andrew Vadnais said school alumnus Frederick Day plans to purchase the farm and create an arrangement for the school to operate environmental initiatives there.

“The bottom line is that we think it’s time for educational institutions to figure out how to educate the next generations to make a difference in the world,†Vadnais said. “The world is much different from when you and I graduated from school. We have real environmental issues, including global climate, which will have wide spread ramifications on the future. Children will have to be prepared to wrestle with those issues.â€

According to Mark Berghold, director of academic resources at the school, the environmental initiatives may include studies on solar power, wind power, organic farming, fish farming and growing organic orchards.

“It will not remain as a dairy farm, at least not in the way that it is now,†Berghold said. “It is not the intention of the school to take over the farm’s dairy operations. Our mission is a lot broader and deeper. We want to reconnect our students with the land around them. And, in the process, try to heal the farm land itself because the property is distressed.â€

The farm sits at the north end of Hatch Pond, which, according to Berghold, used to be much longer.

“Like old trees, ponds also have a life span,†Berghold said. “Hopefully we can do a study of what happened to the pond itself.â€

Vadnais emphasized that, while negotiations between Vagts and Day are ongoing, a purchase agreement has not been finalized.

“It’s not a done deal yet,†Vadnais said. “I’m not sure what exactly is going on with all legal deeds and such. We are staying out of that. There is every indication that the sale will go through. But until everything is signed, it is not a done deal.â€

According to The Kent Historical Society’s Web site at kenthistoricalsociety.org/the-history-of-agriculture-in-kent.htm, at one point there were at least 50 dairy farms operating in Kent.

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