Lyme’s Baylee Drown Recognized as Connecticut Outstanding Young Farmer

HARTFORD, CT – Baylee Drown of Lyme’s Long Table Farm has been named the 2026 Connecticut Outstanding Young Farmer of the Year.

Drown was honored Wednesday as part of Ag Day at the state Capitol. 

In a news release, the state Department of Agriculture said Drown’s commitment to soil health, community partnerships and year-round diversified food production “has reshaped a corner of southeastern Connecticut.” 

Agriculture Commissioner Bryan P. Hurlburt said Drown’s leadership is also helping to shape the future of farming statewide.

“Baylee shows what’s possible when thoughtful land stewardship, innovation and community connection all move in the same direction,” Hurlbut said. 

Drown acknowledged many outstanding farmers in a state that has seen an increasing level of governmental support for farms. 

“I had the privilege of choosing where to start my career as a farmer, and I chose Connecticut,” Drown said.

The farmer was raised on a Michigan dairy farm, going on to compete on Michigan State University’s winning Dairy Challenge and dairy judging teams and later managing Green Mountain College’s 25-acre farm while completing a master’s degree in Sustainable Food Systems. 

Drown arrived at the Beaver Brook Road farm in 2014, bringing academic training and hands-on experience to determine whether sustainable agriculture could be economically viable. Drown and partner Ryan Quinn have raised vegetables, fruit, Berkshire hogs, ducks for eggs, grass-fed beef and milk, and pasture-raised poultry. 

The state agriculture department said Long Table Farm has not used chemical pest controls—organic or otherwise—since 2019. Drown relies on biological and mechanical methods, livestock integration, and soil‑building practices that reduce pests and strengthen natural predator populations. The wildlife habitat is encouraged through standing dead trees for cavity‑nesting birds, maintained biodiversity zones for overwintering insects, bluebird boxes and carefully timed mowing and grazing.

Compost production has become a growing part of the operation and the farm’s community outreach, with sales set to begin this year. The farm has partnered with the Region 18 school district for more than three years.

The Long Table Farm barn will soon host a community commercial kitchen in partnership with the New London Community Meal Center and River Valley Food Collective, according to the news release.

Drown is a member of the Lyme Planning and Zoning Commission, serves on the Connecticut Farmland Trust and Connecticut Compost Alliance, and is a co-leader of the NCTFA Queer Farmers Circle. The farm partners regularly with local nonprofits, schools, and food‑access organizations and is regularly represented at statewide and regional conferences.

The state’s Outstanding Young Farmers program is administered by the Connecticut Agricultural Information Council. Drown can now apply to compete for the National Outstanding Young Farmer award.