Nestled in the hills of southern Shelburne, this land has been in agricultural use since before the Revolutionary war. Enoch Bardwell and his son Enoch Jr. settled in this place around 1771. Twenty years later the two joined their farms along Bardwells Ferry Road to form what is now Foxbard Farm.  Enoch Jr.’s youngest son, Solomon Bardwell, built the brick house at 400 Bardwells Ferry Road, designed by Asher Benjamin, in 1812. 

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Three generations of Andrews lived in the brick house and worked the farm. The main barn, 100′ long, was built by the Andrews family in 1866. In 1943 Ed Andrews sold the property to Samuel and Jeanette Payne. Sam Payne had grown up in Greenfield working summers at the Anderson Farm in Shelburne and saw a dream come true when he was able to buy his own.  At the time this section of Shelburne was known as Foxtown and the original owners of the farm were Bardwells, so Jean Payne named the place Foxbard Farm. Sam worked to clear pastures and manage woodlands, and established the black angus herd, with much help from Dave Sears.

 

After Sam passed in 1991, his son John Payne moved here in 1999 with his wife Margaret to more closely manage the farm. With the help of long time Farm Manager Kurt Benson, he grew the Farm's beef and timber operations, and improved the hayfields and pastures. He renovated  the brick house and advanced a thoughtful strategy to permanently protect much of the land from future development, until he passed away in 2018.

Foxbard Farm is currently owned by Margaret and her four children. As of 2024 daughter Helen Payne Watt and her family are now living at, managing, and planning a future for the farm. They are committed to honoring its history of agriculture and land stewardship while exploring new ways for Foxbard Farm to contribute to a healthy rural economy and community for Shelburne.