Jon Stewart’s life away from television has included an unusual investment in New Jersey’s agricultural landscape. In 2016, the comedian and his wife, Tracey Stewart, bought the historic 45-acre Hockhockson Farm in Colts Neck for $4 million. According to The Two River Times, which reported the purchase based on property records and local planning documents, the couple intended to turn the site into a working farm and sanctuary-education centre. Today, the property is known for both its agricultural use and its role in caring for rescued farm animals.
A historic Colts Neck property
Hockhockson Farm sits along Route 537 in Colts Neck, between Laird Road and Swimming River Road. The property has a long agricultural history, with the farm dating to around 1780. When the Stewarts purchased it, the site included a farmhouse, two smaller houses, barns, other farm buildings, horse corrals and a farm stand.The property had also remained connected to the same family for generations. According to The Two River Times, members of the Cooke family had owned the farm for a couple of hundred years before it was acquired by the Stewarts’ entity, FSP LLC, also known as JTS Land Trust. The $4 million transaction was recorded on September 16, 2016. The purchase was part of the Stewarts’ plan to continue using the land as a farm while giving it another purpose centred on animal welfare and education.
From working farm to animal sanctuary
Before completing the purchase, Jon and Tracey Stewart had already outlined plans for a working farm and sanctuary-education centre. Their proposal involved working with Farm Sanctuary, a New York State-based organisation focused on rescuing and caring for farm animals. Plans included raising and selling crops, protecting rescued animals and creating opportunities for visitors to learn about farming and healthy eating.The project also involved plans for educational facilities. The couple had proposed an approximately 8,400-square-foot, two-storey education and visitor centre, along with other improvements to the property. The intention was to combine agriculture, animal protection and public education rather than simply preserve the land as a private estate. The proposal went through local agricultural and planning processes. In May 2016, the Monmouth County Agriculture Development Board approved the farm-related application, after which the project was to proceed to the township Planning Board for site-plan approval.
The sanctuary aspect of the property also connects closely with Tracey Stewart’s longstanding interest in animal welfare (Image Credit: The Two River Times)
What the farm is like today
The property has continued to be associated with both farming and animal care. A 2024 report by 94.3 The Point described the Colts Neck property as a farm and animal sanctuary where crops are grown and rescued animals are cared for. The animals mentioned include cows, sheep, goats, pigs and chickens, giving the property the character of a traditional farm while also serving as a refuge for animals that need care.The farm is also substantial in its physical layout. According to 94.3 The Point, Hockhockson Farm includes two two-bedroom cottages, a pond, a pool and an equine facility with an arena. The property also has six barns, 16 stalls, five pastures, five paddocks, a five-car garage and a farm stand area. These features reflect the property’s agricultural roots, with open land and farm infrastructure forming a significant part of the estate rather than the focus being solely on the main house.
Tracey Stewart’s role in animal welfare
The sanctuary aspect of the property also connects closely with Tracey Stewart’s longstanding interest in animal welfare. According to The Two River Times, she was an animal advocate and former veterinary technician who had grown up on a farm. That background helps explain why the couple’s plans for Hockhockson Farm went beyond conventional farming. The property was envisioned as a place where agricultural activity could exist alongside animal rescue and education.The Stewarts have consequently turned a historic New Jersey farm into a property with several overlapping roles. It remains tied to its agricultural past through crop production and farm infrastructure, while its sanctuary function gives rescued animals a safe place to live.
A different kind of celebrity property
For a celebrity-owned property, Hockhockson Farm is notable for being shaped by a purpose beyond luxury. Its 45 acres bring together a historic farm, crop cultivation and an animal sanctuary, carrying forward the vision the Stewarts had when they acquired the property in 2016.The $4 million purchase has since taken on a distinctive character, with farming and animal welfare becoming two defining parts of the New Jersey property.
