Farming & Agriculture in Hubbardston
Agriculture has been the backbone of Hubbardston's economy since the lumber era ended in the late 1800s. Dairy farming, grain crops, and the Central Fair shaped generations of community life.
After the surrounding forests were depleted in the late 19th century, Hubbardston transitioned from lumber to agriculture. Irish immigrant families who had come as laborers became farmers, raising dairy cattle, grain crops, and livestock on the fertile land of North Plains Township. The Hubbardston Central Fair showcased the community's agricultural production, and a local creamery processed dairy products from surrounding farms. Agriculture remains part of the landscape today, with farmland stretching in every direction from the village center.
Articles
Agriculture & The Central Fair
By 1870, North Plains Township ranked 4th in Michigan for agricultural productiveness. The Central Fair Association showcased the community's farming heritage on 20 acres.
Pioneer Life on the Michigan Frontier
What daily life was like for the earliest settlers of Hubbardston and North Plains Township — clearing land, building cabins, and surviving on the Michigan frontier in the 1830s and 1840s.
The Sawmill Era & Fish Creek
How Fish Creek powered Hubbardston's early economy — the sawmills, the lumber trade, and the transformation of forest into farmland.
Hubbardston Today
Life in modern Hubbardston — a village of 345 that maintains its identity, traditions, and community in a changing world.
People
Places & Businesses
Hubbardston Market
Beloved local grocery store and deli since 1966, known for fresh meats, homemade baked goods, and 'Smoking Saturdays' with hot smoked ribs.
Hubbardston Creamery
A dairy processing facility that operated in the early 1900s, reflecting Hubbardston's transition from lumber to agriculture.
John Cowman Farm
The first Irish settlement site in North Plains Township, located on Section 11. John Cowman's sheep-shed became the community's first church.