MEET THE FARMERs
Dan has been involved with Butterfly Farm since he was a young kid, helping with daily feeding of the farm’s animals, picking vegetables, cutting down Christmas Trees, and more. Dan was lucky enough to have these opportunities that grew as he got older. These childhood experiences shaped his future college experience, where he graduated with a B.S. in Environmental Horticulture and Turfgrass Management and a B.S. in Animal Science from URI.
Upon graduating college Dan owned and operated a Garden Design and Maintenance firm that has now been incorporated into the operations of Butterfly Farm. From 2011 to 2019, Dan was employed as an Animal Science instructor at Bristol County Agricultural High School sharing his knowledge of the livestock and equine industry with his students.
Dan is passionate about sustainable agriculture and shaping agricultural practices at Butterfly Farm around caring for the environment. He is an avid community member and is excited to serve as the caretaker of this beautiful property in Lincoln. Dan is excited to connect members of the community to agriculture as the farm expands and grows.
Dan Flynn
Nikki’s passion for animals began at a young age and was shaped through hands-on learning early in her life. As a graduate of Bristol County Agricultural High School, Nikki focused on Small Animal Science and gained extensive hands-on experience with both small animals and livestock through coursework in animal health, nutrition, anatomy, reproduction, and more. This early foundation helped guide her path into a career centered around animal care and agriculture.
Nikki Tyler
For almost a decade, Nikki has been instrumental in the farms daily operations. In her role, she oversees the daily care of a wide variety of livestock, including cattle, sheep, horses, poultry, and more while also helping with garden production, farm stand operations, and organizing farm events that bring our community together.
In addition to her work on the farm, Nikki is the owner of Nikki’s Pet & Farm Sitting, a business she has proudly run for over 12 years. She provides reliable, compassionate care for a wide range of animals and is known for her ability to manage multiple clients while building strong, lasting relationships.
Nikki holds a Bachelor of Science in Animal Sciences from the University of New Hampshire, with minors in Business Administration and Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems.
history of the farm
established in 1915
Butterfly Farm began in 1915 as a working Dairy Farm. The Farm was originally owned by Sayles Bleachery and then later sold to the Chase Family when the two farms combined to be know as Chase & Butterfly Dairy Farm. The farm milked close to 100 Holstein cattle a day serving the communities' dairy needs. The farm was later sold to Gilbert Smith and stayed in the Smith family until 2016. When the dairy industry began to decline, the herd was sold in the late 1960s. The farm morphed through many different avenues as the years went on including firewood sales, sweet corn, Christmas trees, Draft Horses, and a small flock of sheep.
