FAMILY TRADITION: Anna and Jimmy Abma, who are in charge of Abma’s Farm in Hillsborough, are shown with their children, who are the fifth generation of this special farm’s tradition. “We are all very proud of our family farm and enjoy introducing everyone to our fresh produce, meat, and poultry, and invite them to see our beehives and visit the animals in the petting zoo.”
By Jean Stratton
Farming is not a career, it is a way of life,” emphasizes the mission statement of Abma’s Farm. “We are deeply rooted in the generations of farmers before us, and devote our lives to this tradition.
“More than anything,” it continues, “Abma’s is about family — yours and mine — and sharing the unique experience of living and working on a farm with you and your children. During planting season, harvest season, and beyond, it is our goal to reconnect you with us (your local farmer) through education, events, social media, and more.”
Abma’s Farm, located at 282 Amwell Road in Hillsborough, is indeed unique. Not only is it a family farm with nearly 100 years of history and tradition, it is a widespread operation with 800 acres. Its focus is providing healthy choices for customers, serving the community, and continuing the tradition established by its founder Barney Abma.
Arriving in the U.S. from the Netherlands in 1929, he established a poultry farm in Wykoff. Each succeeding generation has continued the tradition, and now his great-grandson, Jimmy, and his wife Anna, are in charge of the Hillsborough location. The farm, a branch of the original Wykoff farm, opened in 2019, with the farm store a more recent addition in 2024.
FARMING IS FUN! These fledging farmers are enjoying an “up close and personal” moment with free-range chickens at Abma’s Farm in Hillsborough. Visitors to the farm enjoy the chance to mingle with the many animals, browse in the farm store, and see the beautiful array of annual and perennial flowers,
Four Generations
“There are four generations represented, and a fifth with the children,” says Anna. “The kids love the farm and come to help after school, on weekends, and in the summer.”
Regarding the move from Wykoff to Hillsborough, Jimmy explains, “We wanted to expand, and we needed more land. Now, we grow produce, hay, grain, and straw. We also have pasture-raised livestock, including cows, pigs, chickens, sheep, and goats as well as eggs from our hens.
“This is a working farm,” he continues, “and it is open to the public. Everything is transparent, and people can see how the animals are cared for in a humane and ethical way.”
In addition, the farm has thriving beehives which are available for the public to view. “People can observe the hives, and even see the queen,” reports Jimmy. The resulting raw honey, slightly filtered, is a very popular item in the farm store.
As both a retail and wholesale operating, Abma’s provides a full range of products for its farm market in Hillsborough and Wykoff, and its various markets in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, including 80 different retail outlets.
The produce includes a wide variety of fruits and vegetables: lettuce, tomatoes, kale, peppers, potatoes, peas, beans, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, strawberries, watermelon, and much more.
Locally-Grown
The farm also participates in the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, which offers a weekly subscription or crop share for a season’s worth of sustainable, locally-grown produce. CSA members enjoy the quality of fresh fruits and vegetables each week, while supporting their local farmer.
“We have 400 CSA members now, and we look forward to even more soon,” reports Anna. “They join for 21 weeks, and come each week to pick up their produce, which has been harvested that very day, ensuring the best quality and nutritional value.
“CSA members know where and how their food is grown, and have an open line of communication with us. It is so important to educate people, including kids, about the food they eat, how it is grown, and also about the animals.”
Indeed, a source of great pleasure to customers at Abma’s Farm is the petting zoo. Visitors are able to mingle with a wide array of animals. Goats, sheep, donkeys, alpacas, cows, pigs, peacocks, emus, and ducks are all at home on the farm. Visitors can see newly-born piglets, baby lambs, and more.
Special events for children ages 5 and older include one-on-one animal encounters with a four-legged farm friend. From April through August, special “Calf Feeding and Cuddle Time” offers opportunities to bottle-feed, cuddle, groom, and play with a baby calf. This is a chance for children to learn about calf care and farm life.
The zoo is also open free of charge to grandparents on “Grandparents Day” every Wednesday.
Summer Camp
In addition, a six-week camp for kids, ages 5 to 10, will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. starting July 14. Through interactive lessons and hands-on activities, campers will develop a respect for farming, while having fun outdoors. Daily activities include animal care and handling, scavenger hunts, “fun” farm chores, and more.
Throughout the year, a variety of other events are offered, including hayrides, a Strawberry Festival, Christmas holiday activities, and autumn pumpkin-picking parties. Currently, visitors are able to pick strawberries in the strawberry patch.
The farm store is a favorite stop for many customers, and it offers a full selection of fruits and vegetables as well as baked goods including bread, pies, cakes, and donuts from the farm’s own bakery.
“Tomatoes and strawberries are favorites now, and so is the meat,” says Jimmy. “We also have specialties, such as bologna, liverwurst, pork roll (Taylor Ham), and Canadian bacon, also very popular. Our own jams, honey, and other gourmet specialties are in demand too.”
The farm also has a wonderful selection of flowers and plants, including annuals and perennials of all kinds, also herbs, grown in the farm’s greenhouse. The colorful vista they provide is an appealing attraction as people visit this special farm.
Jimmy and Anna are pleased that more and more customers are coming to the farm, and from as far away as Staten Island and Long Island, N.Y. in addition to those from the nearby area. “The number of customers continues to grow, and we are very encouraged. We love to see them enjoying the farm.”
Sustainable Agriculture
Always at the forefront is Abma’s commitment to providing the best produce, meat, and poultry for their customers, and within a humane environment for their animals, while pursuing sustainable practices helpful to the environment.
As the mission statement points out, “We believe in sustainable agriculture and sustainable practices that protect the environment, expand the earth’s natural resource base, and maintain and improve soil fertility.”
Practices they utilize to achieve these goals are: crop diversity (75 different types of crops); crop rotation; weed control (without herbicides); integrated pest management (using beneficial insects, such as lady bugs and beetles to control pests); cover crops (to reduce soil erosion); water management and conservation; and a reduced carbon footprint (by selling directly to the consumer rather than a distribution center or grocery store, thus reducing packaging waste, fuel consumption, and transportation pollution).
Faith, Family, Farm
A strong sense of family and a strong faith were essential Abma’s Farm’s values from the beginning, and have been fundamental to the succeeding generations through the years.
“We are absolutely blessed to do what we love every single day. We find contentment in the hard work, sweat, and tears put into keeping our family farm alive and thriving. We find joy in trusting God. We find joy in serving our community. We farm to feed our families, our community, and our world.
“Faith, Family, Farm. These are the core values that bind us together, generation after generation.”
Abma’s Farm is open Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. For further information, call (908) 292-0278, Visit the website at abmasfarm.com. Tickets for events and the petting zoo should be purchased online in advance.