Smiling Hill Farm
Aerial view of Smiling Hill Farm. Photo: Smiling Hill Farm.
For more than three centuries, Smiling Hill Farm has represented the enduring connection between Maine families, agriculture, and the land. Located in Westbrook, the farm traces its roots to 1720, when the Knight family established a homestead on land that would become one of Maine's best-known working farms. Today, descendants of the original family continue to operate the farm, carrying forward a tradition of stewardship and agricultural innovation.
Originally a diversified New England farm, Smiling Hill Farm adapted through changing times while remaining connected to traditional farming practices. By the nineteenth century, dairy farming became an important part of its operation, and the farm supplied milk to the surrounding community, including door-to-door deliveries in Portland before the rise of large-scale dairy processors.
In the late twentieth century, Smiling Hill Farm embraced direct-to-consumer agriculture, producing its own dairy products and welcoming visitors to experience farm life firsthand. The farm became known for its milk, ice cream, cheese, educational programs, and family-friendly attractions, helping connect generations of Maine residents and visitors with the state's agricultural heritage.
Smiling Hill Farm reflects a story that is central to the state's history: families working the land, adapting to change, and preserving traditions for future generations. Its fields, barns, and daily farm operations serve as a reminder that Maine's heritage is built not only in its cities and industries, but also in the farms that have sustained communities for centuries.
