PA celebrates centuries of farm families

By Blake Jackson

Pennsylvania's rich agricultural heritage was celebrated at the Farm Show, where Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding recognized six families whose farms have weathered centuries of change. Among them was Robert F. Cochran's Chester County farm, a testament to 300 years of family legacy and the only Tricentennial Farm in the state. 

"These families are the backbone of Pennsylvania agriculture," Redding said, echoing the Farm Show's theme of "Connecting Our Communities." "For generations, they've connected people to the land and to each other, ensuring a vibrant future for our rural communities." 

Since 1977, the Century Farm program and the Bicentennial Farm program, established in 2004, have honored over 2,300 farms that have been passed down through generations. This year's honorees hail from across the state: 

• Chester County: Robert F. Cochran's farm, established in 1724, stands as a beacon of local history, with 120 acres preserved for future generations. 
• Perry County: James William Stambaugh's farm, a 236-year-old legacy bought for 800 British pounds, still holds its original farmhouse, barn, and outbuildings. 
• Perry County: Linda K. Smith-Gutshall-Young's farm, acquired ten generations ago, continues its tradition of raising goats and turkeys on 113 acres. 
• Union County: Bret & Mary Moyer's farm, purchased by a Revolutionary War veteran in 1797, boasts 100 acres still in active use from the original 117. 
• Montgomery County: Scott & Sharon Melanson's farm, established in 1922, proudly preserves all 52 acres of their family's legacy, growing corn, soybeans, and pumpkins. 
• Lehigh County: Klusaritz Family Farm, founded in 1923, maintains its 100-year-old hay and straw operation on 65.8 acres of the original 75. 

To qualify as a Century Farm, families must have owned the land for at least 100 years, have a member living on the farm, and maintain at least 10 acres or earn $1,000 annually from agricultural sales. These families represent the enduring spirit of Pennsylvania agriculture, connecting generations to the land and ensuring a thriving future for rural communities. 

Photo Credit: pennsylvania-farm-show