Grazing Returns to Pettengill Farm After Half a Century
For the first time in nearly 50 years, visitors to Pettengill Farm will see animals grazing the fields once again—reviving one of the oldest traditions at our iconic saltwater farm.
The Pettengill Farm Pasture Regeneration Project is a new collaboration between Freeport Historical Society and Giblin Cattle Company of Maine, a regenerative grazing operation led by young farmer Cooper Giblin. The initiative brings cattle and sheep back to the property’s fields, helping restore the land while reconnecting the community with its agricultural heritage.
Grazing animals have been part of the farm since its beginning, including Frank and Mildred Pettengill’s dairy cows. After the farm was gifted to Freeport Historical Society in 1975 by Eleanor Houston Smith and L.M.C. Smith, Wolfe’s Neck Farm grazed cattle on the land for just a few additional summers.
“Wolfe’s Neck Center and the Historical Society have long shared a vision of returning agriculture to Pettengill’s fields,” said David Herring, Executive Director of Wolfe’s Neck Center. “Cooper is an exceptional young farmer whose innovation and deep respect for the land are perfectly suited to the unique challenges and potential of this historic site.”
The grazing effort will use solar-powered fencing to manage a small herd of lowline Angus cattle and Barbados Blackbelly sheep through rotational pasture practices. A solar pump will draw from the farm’s original hand-dug well—still flowing after more than two centuries. These regenerative methods will help rebuild soil health, promote pollinators, and control invasive plants.
“We’re excited to bring livestock back to this incredible landscape,” said Cooper Giblin, Founder and CEO of Giblin Cattle Company and a Senior Apprentice at Wolfe’s Neck Center. “Our goal is to create a healthy ecosystem that benefits the land, the animals, and the community.”
The project represents a creative new chapter for Pettengill Farm—one that blends historic preservation with sustainable agriculture, while creating new ways for people to connect with Freeport’s past.
Pettengill Farm is open to the public from dawn to dusk daily. Visitors are encouraged to enjoy the trails, fields, and scenic beauty—and now, a glimpse of grazing animals bringing history back to life. Stay tuned for updates and educational opportunities through the summer to learn more.
