WELCOME TO JUDD HILL PLANTATION
Judd Hill Plantation
began as a wedding gift from Judd Hill to his daughter, Mrs. Ester HHl
Chapin, and her new husband, Sam Chapin. Originally, this area consisted
of swamp and timberland along the very fertile St. Francis River Basin.
As the land was cleared and drained, the Chapins created one of the
largest, contiguous farms in Poinsett County. Combining row crops with
a cattle operation, Judd Hill Plantation quickly became one of the premiere
farms in Northeast Arkansas.
At one time, 68 families lived and worked on the plantation. They were
born here, went to a one room school, attended church and many are buried
at the Judd Hill Cemetery, which is still maintained today. Judd Hill
was the quintessential Southern Cotton Plantation.
In 1985, Ester Hill Chapin established the Judd Hill Foundation for the
purpose of research, experimentation and the dissemination of information
to the public on progressive techniques in farming. These include activities
such as agricultural economics, enhanced seed types, fertilization, irrigation
and the control of weeds and pests. Judd Hill is also committed to research
in soil and water conservation. Upon her death in November of 1991, at
age 91, Ester Hill Chapin bequeathed and devised her entire estate to
the Judd Hill Foundation. The principal asset of this gift was the beautiful
4,000 acre Judd Hill Plantation. Today, the farm produces 3,800 acres
of cotton annually.
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