Agriculture at Clermont
Preserving the Past. Cultivating the Future.
A Landscape Shaped by Centuries of Farming
Long before fences and furrows, what is now Clermont was shaped by the agricultural practices of Native Americans. Through controlled burns, they created a patchwork of hardwood forests and grassland savannahs that supported abundant wildlife and early farming. George Washington's 1750 survey of the land even noted areas of "rich barrens"—tree-free grasslands sustained by these practices. During the Woodland Period, Indigenous communities transitioned to a village life, cultivating maize, squash, and beans on lands cleared by controlled fires.
Wheat, War, and the Valley's Agricultural Boom
By the mid-1700s, European settlers brought their farming methods, adapting them to the Valley's rich soils and rising global demand for wheat. The Shenandoah Valley became the South's primary wheat-producing region, and Clermont was a notable standout. While enslaved labor played a significant role in this success, Clermont's approach reflected "general mixed farming"—a diverse model that included corn, grains, livestock, and poultry, rather than a singular focus on a single crop.
From Tenant Farming to Industrial Agriculture
Clermont's mixed farming practices continued into the early 20th century. Gilbert Royston, the last tenant farmer, retired in 1948. His auction inventory of animals and tools echoed the farm's 19th-century operations. However, after World War II, American agriculture underwent significant changes. Larger farms, rising equipment costs, labor shortages, and market consolidation ushered in an era of industrial farming. Clermont's fields saw fewer crops and less activity, and its infrastructure began to decline.
Elizabeth Williams' Vision: Farming with Purpose
In 2004, Elizabeth Williams donated Clermont Farm to the Commonwealth of Virginia and endowed the Clermont Foundation, with one firm requirement: to keep it a working farm. Her goal was twofold: preserve the historic agricultural landscape and support a fading local farming sector. The challenge was clear: restore productivity while adapting to 21st-century realities, including climate change, high operating costs, and the need for sustainable practices.
Today's Clermont: A Working Landscape for Learning
Clermont is once again an active production farm, diverse in its enterprises and rooted in education. In partnership with Virginia Cooperative Extension, local school programs, FFA, and 4-H, the farm serves as a living classroom. From field schools and workshops to on-farm research and wool co-ops, Clermont provides practical training and real-world exposure for students and adult farmers alike.
Sustaining Agriculture for the Next Generation
With fewer farms, an aging farmer population, and rising demand for food and fiber, the future of agriculture depends on innovation, education, and opportunities. Clermont is doing its part by modeling sustainable practices, rebuilding infrastructure, and engaging the next generation in the work of farming. It remains what it has always been—a place where the land is cultivated, and lives are shaped by it.
