Owner

Dr. James Shepherd

Dr. Shepherd is a physician and infectious disease specialist at Yale University School of Medicine, and has recently returned with his family from 8 years in Africa assisting programs in HIV and TB control. He has always been interested in conservation and working lands. To help preserve open green space and promote agriculture in Connecticut, he started Smokedown Farm, a nine acre hop-yard on the western edge of the Housatonic River valley on Sharon Mountain in Sharon CT. 2019 will mark the farm’s fourth harvest.

Farm Manager

Chris Audia

Chris Audia joined the team as Farm Manager in January of 2022. Previously he has worked at an Equestrian Hospital for the past 14 years. During that time, he established a Hop Farm in the Adirondacks that he and his wife and children, Nicole, Liv, and Callie. The property was eventually sold and still supply’s Hops to the Adirondack breweries.

Chris is now turning full-time Hop farming. His love and care for the horses are now turning to the hop yard. With his experience, his goal is to continue to grow quality Hops forSmoketownn Farm and to supply the craft brewing industry of New England with outstanding Hops.