Farm Mission
The Snyder Farm responds to the agricultural and environmental needs of New Jersey. As part of the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station it shares the scientific resources of Cook College at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. Our mandate is to improve the quality of life through an integrated program of scientific research, public education, and community outreach.
Clifford E. and Melda C. Snyder
In an era when farmers trusted tradition more than science, Clifford Snyder financed his own college education with the profits from a borrowed potato field. At a time when most women toiled at home, Melda Snyder was a teacher and school district administrator. Education was a defining ideal for Clifford and Melda Snyder.
The Snyders believed in hard work, honest dealings, and civic service. Clifford was often the first to explore a new idea. Area farmers visited the farm, called Cliffields, and learned about the latest experiment. After Clifford's death in 1967, Melda expanded that concept, hosting informational tours so people could better understand farmers and farming.
 Their vision and spirit endure today. Upon her death in 1988, Melda Snyder bequeathed Cliffields to Cook College and the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station. Renamed "The Snyder Research and Extension Farm, Center for Sustainable Agriculture" this facility embodies these goals and stands as a testament to this forward-thinking couple.
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