CCE Tioga Hilltop Farm

Hilltop Farm is home to CCE Tioga offices and agriculture research projects.  Our vision is to become a center of agriculture and exploration of the natural world for Tioga County.  We have a farm incubator program, where beginning farmers can build their farm business using our farmland and infrastructure and equipment.  We also teach youth and adults all manner of agriculture topics such as tractor maintenance and safety, horticulture, animal care and more. We continue to cultivate agriculture research collaborations with Cornell University.

What to know about the CCE Tioga Hilltop Farm:

• We are located at 343 Cass Hill Road in Candor and the view of the Farm from Schumacher Rd. is amazing!
• The farm is 107 acres of mostly fields and some woods
• Tours are available during regular office hours or by appointment (Monday-Thursday 9am - 2pm)
• Our Greenhouse, installed in 2023, is 24' wide and 90' long 
• Growing Field Plots - Four acres are protected by an 8' tall deer fence with cistern-fed irrigation lines to the growing plots. 2 acres are reserved for demonstration agriculture, including weed trials and cover cropping.
• A secure Quonset hut houses our farm machinery
• Our Food Forrest showcases many edible and native plants, trees, shurbs and perennials. 
• There is a workshop that supports farm upkeep projects
• The Naturescape play area made with all natural materials features a "tractor" and "Farmer's Market Stand" to let imaginations run wild. Porch swings and picnic tables for
• We have two 10-acre pastures enclosed with a 5 strand electric fence and a 10-stall barn available for Incubator Farmers for rotational grazing of livestock 
• Our 25Kw solar array is in and creating power for the farm.  We have hosted Incubator Farmers grazing sheep along side the solar array serving as a demonstration site for agrivoltaics
• We have an EV charger where you can charge your electric vehicles at competitive rates
• There is an indoor riding arena with rubber footing and a pine-paneled warming room
• Our Parking Lot at the lower driveway accommodates parking up to 40 vehicles. The driveway was donated and built by Paul Barber of State Line Auto, a CCE Tioga Friend of Extension.
• Our Learning Classroom above the garage was completed in 2022 by Students from Owego Free Academy s learning building trades. 
• Agriculture Students from Candor High School use Hilltop Farm as their learning laboratory and opportunity for hands-on activities.  
• Cornell University has successfully conducted dry land (irrigated) rice trials utilizing the Greenhouse and irrigated growing plots for 2 years of proof-of-concept research.

What else are we planning?

• A Flood Mitigation Project is planned for 2025-2026 to create retention basins that will help minimize flood risk in the Pipe Creek watershed.  Over 2,000 native trees will be planted and we plan to have educational nature trails through the area. 
• A high tunnel and hazelnut windbreak located next to our greenhouse.  

Last updated March 25, 2025