About The Trailside Foundation

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The Trailside Foundation is a non-profit organization focused on building a stronger, healthier community in Cecil Township, Washington County, PA through access to small-scale agriculture opportunities. Located on the historic McConnell Farm just south of Pittsburgh, our property was cultivated and farmed by the same family for over 260 years. Trailside promotes Southwestern Pennsylvania’s rich, family-focused agricultural history to inspire modern growers, gardeners and small farmers to build healthy, sustainable and secure food futures.

Sometime around 1752, Alexander McConnell and his son Matthew settled and began farming approximately 300 rolling, soil-rich acres in Cecil Township. Portions of the farm were worked and remained within the family for over 260 years, bearing witness to America’s diverse and regularly changing agricultural tradition from colonial times until present day. 

With Cecil Township and the surrounding area growing fast, Bryan McConnell, the seventh generation of McConnell men to own and operate the farm, decided the remaining portion of the farm, about 25 acres, should remain an asset to the people of Cecil Township. McConnell transferred the farm property to The Trailside Foundation. His goal: to provide the new generation of growers, farmers and foodies with insight into how small-scale, family farming worked in the past and how it can inspire our world for years to come.