Historic Rochester farm continues ‘community’ legacy with family fest

ROCHESTER — Silas and Dominic were taking a break from treats. The two donkeys at East Over Farm had had a few too many from the several visitors that came to the property Saturday, Sept. 7.

The farm held an open house family fest at which attendees could explore East Over and its offerings — including petting and giving treats to the donkeys Silas and Dominic.

Erik Hedblom, who runs the farm with his wife Tess Hiller Hedblom, said the event was a re-announcement to the community that East Over Farm is “open with all these different things.”

They also wanted to continue the legacy of Tess’s grandfather, Bob Hiller, who his whole life ran East Over as a “community farm” and a place that has “always been open to the community,” Hedblom said.

Rochester resident Mirade Myette said it was great that East Over was letting visitors into the farm, which is a “cornerstone of the community.”

Myette patted the head of Dominic — as the donkey stuck its head through the slats of a green fence — while holding Siersha Myette, 2. Ronan, 5, and Pam Myette stood nearby.

“It’s wonderful,” Pam Myette said. “It’s beautiful here.”

During the open house, tractor-pulled wagon rides traveling up and down the street showed the property.

Visitors could also walk into East Over’s barn and its wellness center, which features an esthetician, mental health counselor, massage therapist as well as fitness and nutrition coaching by Erik Hedblom.

“This place has been a lot of things over 300 years, so we’re trying to just bring it into the 21st century, while still keeping that legacy of an old family farm,” Hedblom said.

He and Tess Hiller Hedblom began running East Over Farm in the last few years, after Tess’s father Rob Hiller contracted the mosquito-borne disease Eastern equine encephalitis in 2019 and Bob Hiller died in early 2020.

The Hiller family has owned the property for more than a century. The farm is adjacent to East Over Reservation, a 75-acre tract of protected land that the Hiller family had once also maintained.

“We’re basically trying to revive the farm for another couple generations,” Hedblom said.

At the family open house Saturday, Rochester native Rebecca Correia was set to perform music later in the evening. Visitors also mingled over a stone wall with several of the farm’s horses in addition to the pair of donkeys — who were “very friendly,” according to Katlynn Kisla of Rochester.

“Once you start petting them, you can’t stop,” Alex Kisla said.

Julian Dwyer, 5, of Middleboro said the donkeys felt like a dog — or like a “horse licking” his finger.

He said he wanted to keep feeding them.

East Over Farm’s barn manager Kailee Rodrigues said having people see the farm and animals had “been a long time coming.”

“It’s really amazing and rewarding to see everybody getting to come in now and interact with the animals,” Rodrigues said. “It makes me happy.”