Located in Reading, Vermont, Jenne Farm is reputed to be the most photographed farm in New England. Although it’s easy to miss the Jenne Road turnoff from Route 106 when sailing to this private rural property 15 minutes south of Woodstock, Vermont, it’s worth taking the time to see the stunning views of Jenne’s Farm.
Jenne Farm’s photographs have appeared on posters, postcards, calendars, and corporate reports, as well as on the covers of magazines such as Yankee and Vermont Life . The farm also appeared in a Budweiser commercial and served as the setting for several Hollywood productions, including “Forrest Gump” and “Funny Farm.”
More than 50 years after the first photographers discovered this picturesque setting, Jenne Farm remains a popular meeting place for camera clubs, a routine destination for wedding photographers, and the subject of contest winning images. If you’re planning a trip to Vermont, especially in the fall, consider adding Jenne Farm to your itinerary.
Jenne’s Farm Story
One facet of Jenne Farm that makes it so remarkably photogenic is the authentic, rural American aesthetic of old buildings, crop-covered hills, and pastures full of roaming cattle. Privately owned since it was first established, probably somewhere in the late 1800s or early 1900s, Jenne Farm has been a family business for at least 50 years.
According to one of the farm’s current owners, Floyd Jenne, the trend for photographing Jenne Farm’s picturesque landscape began in the 1960s when a group of South Woodstock photography school workshops discovered the location. After some photographers entered photographs of the property in Time magazine photo contests, Jenne Farm quickly became known as a great place to take an artistic snapshot of American life.
However, since the 2000s, the popularity of this private farm with local and international photographers has only grown. As recently as 2017, one of Jenne Farm’s ten family co-owners reported that up to 100 tourists would be on the property on the busiest days of the year.
Despite crowds of hopeful photographers throughout the year, Jenne Farm still operates today as a fully functioning farm business and serves as a private residence for some members of the Jenne family. Keep this in mind if you hope to visit this remote and beautiful destination on your trip to Vermont, and remember to be respectful to the people who live and work on the land.
How to get to Jenne Farm: don’t miss the dirt road
What makes this somewhat remarkable is that this private farm, located on a dirt road, is not exactly highly promoted or on a busy route. As a result, you will need to pay close attention to the instructions while driving there. Jenne Farm is located at 1264 Jenne Road in Reading, Vermont.
If you’re traveling from Hanover or Lebanon, you can take US Highway 4 from White River Junction to Woodstock, then turn south onto Vermont Highway 106 when you reach The Green downtown, an oblong roundabout that circles a public park.
Jenne Road will be on your right in about eight miles, and you’ll know you’re approaching once you pass South Woodstock, the Vermont Horse Country Store, and the Green Mountain Horse Association. It’s easy to miss this dirt road, but you’ll know you’ve gone too far if you see Adventure Quest Drive or Caper Hill Road on your left.
Once you turn onto Jenne Road, there is a great view over Jenne Farm about two-tenths of a mile down the road, but you can also continue to drive directly to the property as long as you are respectful of the residents.
Tips for photographing Jenne Farm
- While photographers have started arriving at Jenne Farm in droves throughout the year, the most popular time of year for photographers to visit this beautiful location is during peak fall foliage season (late September to early October). .
- In winter, the red-painted farm buildings are particularly attractive against a backdrop of bright white snow, but you’ll need to get to the farm early if you want photos of intact snow dunes.
- It ‘s a good idea to buy some syrup before leaving if available, as the descendants of the family Jenne struggle to keep the old farm buildings, according to Yankee magazine.
- Dress appropriately for the weather, bring plenty of snacks and water, and be courteous to the farm owners when on the property.
- Heading to the farm before sunrise or a few hours before sunset to catch “The Golden Hour” of lighting is your best bet for taking a quality photo at any time of year. You may want to consider staying at a hotel near Jenne Farm to beat the morning rush.
- Other farms in the Woodstock area that are great for photography include Sugarbush Farm, a maple and cheese farm with a nature trail and farm chapel; Billings Farm & Museum, a historic dairy with award-winning Jersey cows; and Cloudland Farm, which was built entirely from wood harvested on the farm.
