When Porter and Martha Ann Claxton and their 5 children moved to the farm in 1976, it consisted of 60 acres with a small roadside cabin, an old tobacco barn and a shed with milking parlor, a spring house and an out-house - all in ruin. They built a log house and a pond. The land was cleared making pastures. A small herd of commercial cattle was converted to a Registered Herd of Polled Herefords.

 

Through the ensuing years a menagerie of animals was added. A tradition developed as Porter and the children gave Martha Ann different animals as a surprise present at Christmas. Many times the neighbors would help by hiding animals until Christmas Eve, and it was always the first question Christmas morning, "What did Martha Ann get this year?" These animals included sheep, goats, pigs, llamas, miniature horses, donkeys and a camel!

 

One year against her expressed wishes she thought that she had received a milk cow when the children painted black shoe polish on a white Charolais cow named Snowball making her look like a Holstein milk cow. A surprise for the ages, and an everlasting story that gets better each time it is told.

Through the years the opportunity came up to acquire land adjacent to the farm. Always looking for more pasture for the cattle, the farm grew to more than 500 acres. A pond was built by taking the top from a near by hill, creating a dam. This resulted in a flat area we now call the Flat Top. In 1996, Joe Lasher of M7 Event Solutions saw this area while looking for a spot to have a picnic. He immediately recognized its potential for special events. The mountains and meadows surround the Flat Top and one feels the beauty of the site and in touch with nature. This is a unique experience we are happy to share.

 

On November 2, 2009 Claxton Farm lost to fire the 100 year old tobacco barn which had been host to hundreds of events over the last decade. However, it did not take but a few days before it was announced that the Claxton Family had decided to rebuild on the exact spot! Claxton Farm is just too magical for events to cease. In just under 5 months a new event barn was erected and the 2010 event season carried on as planned, fulfilling the tradition of creating incredible memories!

Currently, Claxton Farm is very active with 150 Registered Polled Hereford cattle, Registered Miniature Horses and Llamas. These are available for private treaty sales and on-farm auction sales have been held every other year. School tours and birthday parties may be scheduled at the farm while M7 will arrange for any Special Event at the Flat Top.