2026 Business Excellence Awards: The Lyman Farm Inc.

Award Category: Family-Owned Business, 51-250 Employees

The Lyman Farm Inc.

Headquarters: Middlefield

Year Founded: 1741

Industry: Agritourism, Golf, Retail, Wholesale Bakery

Top Executive: John Lyman III, Executive Vice President

Employees: 100

Website: lymanorchards.com

Founders: John and Hope Lyman

Family members currently employed at the company: John Lyman III (8th Generation), Executive Vice President; Adam Lyman (9th Generation), General Manager of Wholesale Bakery, son of John Lyman III

Generation currently running the company: 8th

Lyman Orchards is a family-owned farm in Middlefield that has been in operation since 1741.

Situated on 1,100 acres, the property includes Pick Your Own orchards, the Apple Barrel Farm Market, three public golf courses, 1741 Pub & Grill and seasonal attractions including the Sunflower Maze and Corn Maze.

Lyman Orchards serves local residents and visitors from across the region through agricultural products, retail, recreation and seasonal events.

Check out the other 2026 Business Excellence Awards honorees

Tell us about your recent accomplishments.

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Recent accomplishments include being named the Best Apple Orchard in the Nation in the 2025 USA Today 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards and Connecticut’s Best Pick-Your-Own Farm for 2026.

In 2022, we expanded our wholesale bakery operations with the purchase of a production facility in New Haven, allowing us to better serve our retail and wholesale customers.

Our Golf Center was recognized as one of the top 50 practice facilities in the country for 2025, our director of junior programming, Alex Cavaliere, was honored as the Connecticut PGA Teacher and Coach of the Year, and we rank third nationally in total participation for PGA Jr. League.

What are your family values?

We are guided by four core values: integrity, commitment to excellence, innovation and stewardship. We believe in acting with honesty and accountability, producing quality products and courteous service, embracing new ideas while adapting to change, and preserving our family’s agricultural legacy.

These values guide our decisions every day and have helped sustain our business for more than 285 years.

Check out the other 2026 Business Excellence Awards honorees