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Lester's Farm Market Website
Description
NOTE: In 2005 the Agricultural History Society of Newfoundland and Labrador created the “Century Farm Award” to honour farm families across the province who had farmed their land continuously for one hundred years or more and were still actively farming. Heritage NL agreed to post these listings on our website. Please note that these farms are NOT designated by Heritage NL. The listings are commemorative only. All content and images © Agricultural History Society of Newfoundland and Labrador and used with the permission of award recipients.
Information below was current as of 2006-2007.
Lester’s Farm
Lester’s Farm on Brookfield Road, St John’s, trace their history back to a Crown grant dated 1852. The original farmer was John Lester who came from Dorset, England with Sir James Pearl. John Lester produced vegetables and milk. Since John, the farm has been handed down in the family through the generations, often supporting more than one Lester family, as it does at the present time.
Through the years, the families have adapted to changing market opportunities. At the present time, the land produces root crops and silage. There is a large dairy enterprise. And a popular Farmer’s Market sells produce directly to customers at the farm gate.
Many members of the Lester families have contributed to the agricultural industry in the province. Thomas Lester (1918-1988) was inducted into the Atlantic Agricultural Hall of Fame in 1989. During his many years in farming, Thomas Lester was very active in agricultural organizations. He helped to organize the Eastern Farmers Cooperative. He was the first Chairman of the Newfoundland Vegetable Marketing Board. He was active in promoting agricultural fairs and the industry in general. He also worked to protect the land which was suitable for agricultural production.
Juanita Lester, wife of James Lester, was inducted into the Atlantic Agricultural Hall of Fame in 1994. She has for many years been active in agricultural organizations. She has served in executive positions on the Avalon Farm Women’s Association, the provincial Farm Women’s Association, and the Canadian Farm Women’s Network. She was also very much involved in the revitalization of the Federation of Agriculture in the 1980s. And she has served on the Atlantic Farmers’ Council. Juanita Lester is also involved in the Women’s Institute both provincially and nationally.
The Agricultural History Society of Newfoundland and Labrador is mandated to collect and honour the history of agriculture in this province and to raise public awareness of agriculture as a theme in the story of the province. In 2005 the Society created the Century Farm Award which is meant to identify, recognize and honour any farm family who have continuously farmed the same land for one hundred years or more and who continue to farm it at the present time. This award represents the pioneering agricultural history of the province: some farms supplied the growing town of St. John’s with milk, produce, meat and forage for livery stables; other farms supplied vegetables and butter to fishing communities by coastal boat; and others sent produce and dressed poultry by rail to the new resource towns, such as Grand Falls. Some of the early farmers came directly from the British Isles and others came to Newfoundland from earlier settlements in Nova Scotia. From their early beginnings these farms have survived as productive agricultural businesses by adapting successfully to changing market demands and changing economic circumstances and by adopting innovative technology. They have kept their land in good heart through as many as half a dozen generations. The Century Farm families have earned the Century Farm Award in recognition for their contribution to the history of our province and for their commitment to agriculture in the province’s future.
