The 30th annual Newtown Woman's Club, GFWC, Inc pewter Christmas ornament honors Ferris Acres Farm.The Newtown Bee, 5 Church Hill Road; The Toy Tree, 14 Church Hill Road; and the Office of the Town Clerk at Newtown Municipal Center, 3 Primrose Street.

The 2017 ornament, which was again produced by Woodbury Pewter, depicts the barn, silo, and outbuilding that has been in the Ferris family since 1864. The farm has long been a Connecticut Dairy Farm of Distinction.

William Davis Baldwin Ferris purchased the farm now known as Ferris Acres Farm in 1864 from Captain Hart Shepherd. Ferris was a descendant of Zachariah Ferris, who settled in Newtown in 1708, according to a brief history of the property written by Town Historian Dan Cruson.

Each ornament is sold in a clear hard plastic case, and accompanied by a copy of Mr Cruson's write-up. The barn depicted on this year's ornament, according to Mr Cruson, is believed to have been raised sometime in the 18th Century. The barn was expanded in the early 1900s.

Additions have enhanced the farm over the years, with major growth occurring in 1968 and 1995 as needed to accommodate milk production. Two wooden silos were added in 1958 and 1963 from defunct farms in the area. A cement silo was added in 1977.

The milk house burned down in 2003, and was rebuilt. The following year Charles III and his wife Shirley decided to open a creamery to help sustain a growing family.

The result was the successful transition of a traditional dairy farm to a modern business that supports today's sixth generation of a traditional dairy farm to a modern business that supports today's sixth generation of the Ferris family. It stands as a model of what creativity, ingenuity, and hard work have achieved to maintain this important family farm.

Launched in 1988 featuring the town's rooster weathervane as designed by Lorraine VanderWende, the Woman's Club Christmas Ornament Project is an ongoing fundraiser for the club.

Earlier ornaments have included Edmond Town Hall, The Budd House, C.H. Booth Library, the former Hawleyville Post Office building, The Little Theatre, Middle Gate District School 1850, Newtown Meeting House, Newtown Middle School, Newtown General Store, The Yankee Drover, and even the logo of The Newtown Bee, among others. Last year's ornament memorialized Hawleyville's Union Chapel.

Ornaments are $15 each. They can be purchased at C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main Street; Ferris Acres Creamery, 214 Sugar Street; the office of

Proceeds from the annual project are donated by the club to local civic organizations.

For additional information, contact Woman's Club members Pat Bailey (203-426-3287) or Lisa Goosman (203-426-4192).