Delaware Department of Agriculture honors two new Century Farms families
Two Delaware farms, the Rogers family farm and the Hastings family farm, each owned by the same family for 100 years or more, were honored as Century Farms Nov. 2 by the Delaware Department of Agriculture. The 24th Century Farms Awards ceremony was held at the Delaware Department of Agriculture in Dover.
The DDA Planning Section presents Century Farm Awards to landowners who can document that their land has been farmed by the same family for at least 100 years. Farms must include at least 10 acres of the original parcel or gross over $10,000 annually from the sale of agricultural products in order to qualify for the program. To date, including today’s honorees, Delaware has 116 farms enrolled in the Century Farms Program, which began in 1987.
Delaware Secretary of Agriculture Ed Kee was the featured speaker during the ceremony. Kee said, “When I think about Century Farm families and the agricultural industry in Delaware, what comes to my mind is hard work and everything they have accomplished through the years. Everything we accomplish today is on the shoulders of those who went before us.”
Rogers family farm, Nanticoke Hundred, Sussex County
Kenneth W. Rogers Sr., and Barbara Rogers received the award for the Rogers family farm, Nanticoke Hundred, Sussex County. Great-great grandfather Peter McColley purchased the original 100-acre family farm from David McColley March 12, 1891, for $2,300 ($23 per acre). Peter McColley sold the farm to the present owners’ great-grandfather, William B. Owens March 21, 1905. The farm was then inherited by Ella O. Tyndall, grandmother to the present owner, Nov. 11, 1943. Mildred Tyndall Rogers, mother of the present owner, received the farm from Ella O. Tyndall May 24, 1978. The farm was then inherited by the present owner, Kenneth W. Rogers Sr., Nov. 15, 2010. Currently this 56-acre farm produces soybeans, corn and wheat. There are two farm houses on the property, one of which is the original farm house. There is also a family graveyard on the property.
Hastings family farm, North West Fork Hundred, Sussex County
Jonathan R. Hastings Jr. and Rosalie A. Hastings received the Century Farm Award and the Historic Structures Award. William and Eleanor Hastings, grandparents to the present owner, purchased the original 100-acre parcel Sept. 23, 1903 from Harriet P. Layton for $2,000 ($20 per acre). Jonathan Hastings Sr. and Grace Hastings, parents of the present owner, acquired the farm Jan. 2, 1945. The present owner, Jonathan R. Hastings Jr. and his wife Rosalie A. Hastings acquired the farm April 20, 2000. There are eight historic structures on the farm. The corn crib, granary, and smokehouse were built around 1905. The house and dairy barn were built around 1910 and a hay barn, shop and machinery shed were all built about 1950.
At the present time this 108-year-old family farm produces grains and vegetables. In the past the farm grew corn, soybeans, barley, rye, alfalfa, and tomatoes, and raised dairy cows. A seed-cleaning service was set up in the dairy barn in 1971.
During the award presentations, Rep. David Wilson, R-Bridgeville, read tributes to the families from the House of Representatives and the Senate.
