DOVER, Del.- Gov. Carney, Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Nikko Brady, and state legislators, honored 4 Delaware farm households for his or her dedication to conserving farmland inside the household for 100 years.   

“There is no such thing as a higher technique to kick off Delaware Grown Week than to focus on the historical past of Delaware agriculture with the presentation of this 12 months’s Century Farm Awards,” mentioned Carney. “We’re lucky to have generations of farm households nonetheless engaged in agriculture right here in Delaware.”  

The Delaware Century Farm Program was established in 1987 to honor farm households who’ve owned and farmed their land for at the least 100 years. The farms should embrace at the least 10 acres of the unique parcel or gross greater than $10,000 yearly in agricultural gross sales.  

With the announcement of those 4 new households, Delaware can have acknowledged 152 Century Farms over the previous 35 years. Delaware Century Farm households obtain an indication for his or her farms, an engraved plate, a certificates, and legislative tributes.   

“Whereas the Century Farm Program has been in existence for 35 years, we all know there are various Century Farms we now have acknowledged which have been within the household for 150 years…200 years and even longer,” mentioned Brady. “Secretary Scuse and I’ve charged the Aglands crew to analysis these farms so we will acknowledge these households that proceed to go their farms all the way down to the following era. Conserving land in agriculture is crucial to the success of our trade.”  

2022 Delaware Century Farm Awardees 

Lana Rae Eashum and Household (Dagsboro, Sussex County): The Eashum household is acknowledged for his or her 36-acre household farm positioned in Dagsboro Hundred.  

Mr. John H. Baker bought a 36-acre and 15-square-perch farm from Isaac W. Timmons Etux on September 28, 1899, for $11,000. After John died in 1961, the farm was left to his daughter Louise Marie Baker by operation of legislation. On August 29, 1994, the farm was offered to Meredith Kay Emory for $1.00 and purchased again the identical day by Louise Marie Baker. When Louise Marie died in 1995, she left the farm to her son, J. Caleb Eashum. In 2014, J. Caleb added his spouse, Lana Rae Eashum, to the deed. In 2016, J. Caleb handed away.  

Since then, his spouse, Lana Rae Eashum has owned the Eashum Household Farm. Mrs. Eashum’s daughter Denise Shortridge and her husband C.J., who now lives on the farm, obtained the award on her behalf. 

Charles L. Everett, Teresa L. (Everett) Timmons, and Chad L. Everett and Households (Clayton, Kent County): The Everett household is acknowledged for his or her 274-acre farm positioned in Kenton Hundred.   

The unique 417-acre farm was bought by Levi L. Everett and Katherine F. Everett for $12,750 from James M. Downs on April 23, 1920. When Levi died, the farm was left to his spouse Katherine and their 4 kids, Levi, Andrew, Roy, and James. In 1936, Andrew bought all the farm from his mom for $6,500. After he handed in 1981, his will cut up the farm between his two sons, George Lee Everett and Robert L. Everett. George and his spouse, Louise, bought the 274-acre farm parcel in 1988. In 2014, with the passing of Louise, the farm was willed to her three kids, Charles L. Everett, Teresa L. (Everett) Timmons, and Chad L. Everett.  

This farm produces corn, soybeans, wheat, barley, and hay. The household has raised dairy and beef cows, together with hogs. In 2004, the farm had an easement established for Aglands Preservation, completely preserving this farmland. The Everett Household has additionally been concerned in wildlife conservation. They’ve 4 ponds on the farm and have raised and launched quail, Canadian Geese, and Mallard Geese, together with establishing dove plots. 

Stanley L. Johnson and Household (Millsboro, Sussex County): Stanley Johnson and his household are acknowledged for his or her 25-acre farm in Indian River Hundred.   

Mr. George T. Johnson bought the 25-acre farm from Annie J. Hudson, John B., and Martha J. Mitchell on November 21, 1918, for $2,000. In 1976, George handed away, leaving the farm to his spouse, Ella Moore Johnson, with their 4 kids, Elizabeth Smith, Ruth Hudson, Granville L. Johnson, and Richard C. Johnson. Ella died in February 1989, leaving Granville because the Executor of her Property. In July 1989, Richard and his spouse, Patricia, bought the farm from Granville. In 2011, the farm was put into the Richard C. Johnson 2011 Asset Preservation Belief by Co-Trustees, Stanley and Thomas C., kids of Stanley and Patricia. In 2018, Stanley and his spouse Linda bought the farm from the belief.   

Trying again, Stanley’s grandfather, George T. Johnson, raised chickens on the farm for Townsends. The primary crops grown on this Delaware farm embrace corn and soybeans, however they wish to transition into extra specialty crops because the youthful era will get extra concerned.  

Alvin and Regular Warner (Milford, Kent County): Mr. Alvin Warner, and his spouse, Norma, had been honored on the program for his or her 29.3374-acre farm in Milford Hundred.  

Mr. James W. Warner bought a 121-acre farm from Willie and Jennie Russell on January 2, 1921, for $4,500. When he died, the farm was left to his spouse Addie V. Warner, and their 11 kids, Blanche Eisenbrey, Gordon Warner, Maude Corridor, Harvey Warner, Floyd Warner, Hazel Waldron, Stella Willis, Ethel Burns, Wilbur Warner, Howard Warner, and Doris Raughley. In January 1945, son Howard bought the 121-acre farm from his mom for $1.00. In 1976, Howard’s son Alvin and his spouse Norma bought the 29.3374 acres from the unique farm. By 1979, it was decided by means of a survey that underneath Howard and his spouse, Jeannette, the farm was portioned into numerous percentages of land owned between Joan M. and Earl H. McMullen, Robert L. and Kathleen A. Warner, and Alvin H. and Norma V. Warner. Alvin and Norma’s portion included the farm that they had bought and a further 3.7249 acres. In 1981, Alvin and Norma transferred the 29.3374 acres farm to Warner Enterprises, Inc.   

Beforehand a dairy farm, as evidenced by the milk home and cowshed that also stand on the farm, the household transitioned to elevating poultry in 1977. They increase small grains, corn, soybeans, and Delaware Grown greens and produce to promote at their on-farm market.