SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — On a snowy day in 1945, John E. Schaeffer Jr. was captured in a photo, peeking through the steering wheel of an Oliver 60 brand tractor with his parents and grandparents surrounding him.
It was no coincidence that Schaeffer steered his life toward working the land, and continuing to preserve his family’s farm heritage in Wayne Township.
Schaeffer, and his wife, Zoeanne, who operate Schae-View Farm; and Earle E. and LaVerne M. Otto, all of Schuylkill Haven, who operate Otto Farm, were recognized for 100 years of agricultural heritage at the 100th Pennsylvania Farm Show, Harrisburg.
Schae-View Farm and Otto Farm received the Century Farm designation Jan. 15 from the state Department of Agriculture at the show.
The families recently browsed family photos, and shared deed information marking the milestone of having their farms stay within their family for at least 100 years. Earle and Zoeanne are also brother and sister.
Love of open space
“My dad had said farming is too hard of work for not enough pay,” John Schaeffer said, noting his father insisted he attend trade school at Industrial Management Institute, Reading, where he studied architectural drafting. Schaeffer became a draftsman and operated a sheet metal business, before retiring, but always enjoyed farm life and kept his family’s farm going.
“I love the open space,” John said.
At their 428 Summer Hill Road farm, they have 80 acres, raising corn, soybeans, hay and sorghum. The Schaeffers have three children, Jodie Heffner, Jeff Schaeffer and Gail Moyer; and seven grandchildren. Since the Schaeffers are retired, their son-in-law, Nelson Moyer, operates the farm today.
Years before, Schaeffer’s family raised beef, hogs and chickens, and used to sell meat and vegetables door-to-door in Pottsville, he said.
Early roots
Schaeffer’s history of farming the land dates back to Feb. 9, 1887, when his great-grandfather, John Adam Schaeffer, purchased some of the current farm’s property from Charles and Sarah Moyer. Additional pieces of property were added to the home farm over the years, by his great-grandmother, Dianna Schaeffer; his grandparents, James Howard Schaeffer and Amy M. Schaeffer; his parents, John Edwin Schaeffer Sr. and Irene Jenny Schaeffer; and his uncle and aunt, Robert Samuel Moyer and Arlene May Moyer.
Honored together
“It is quite an honor,” Zoeanne said of the centennial recognition. The Schaeffers had submitted their application for the century farm program back in August 2014, and helped the Ottos with their submission to the department last year. Both families heard they’d be honored guests at the 2016 farm show, so they rode down to Harrisburg together for the celebration.
They received a display sign designating their Century Farm, a certificate from the department, and a congratulatory letter from state Sen. David G. Argall, R-29. Rep. Mike Tobash, R-125, was present for the ceremony and was slated to deliver a state citation to both families on Feb. 2.
Family farm
Farming was a way of life he grew up with, Earle Otto said.
“My mother, Ruth Schwartz, was born and raised on a farm and every weekend, and in the summer, I was helping out on the farm,” Earle said.
Earle’s history of farm ownership dates back to his maternal great-uncle, Milton D. Snyder. Milton bought the farm, along Schwartz Valley Road, on Dec. 12, 1912. Milton had a sister, Sarah S. Snyder, who married Jacob A. Schwartz. They had a daughter, Ruth C. Schwartz, who was Earle’s mother. Earle’s father and mother, Henry and Ruth C. Schwartz Otto purchased the farm on April 6, 1956. Earle and his wife, LaVerne, now retired, obtained the farm Jan. 5, 1988, and still own it today. Their sons, Kevin and Keith Otto, and grandson, Shane Otto, operate the farm, growing 26 acres of corn, wheat, oats and hay. They previously raised steer. The Otto farm was also designated a Preserved Farm in 2005, and also has a one-room school house on it, built in 1915.
LaVerne said when they first moved to the farm, Schwartz Valley Road was still a dirt road. It took five years to restore their barn, with its stone foundation and new siding, she said.
She called her husband’s farming venture, a “hobby,” noting he also worked another full-time job. Earle previously worked for Farm Bureau, before it became Agway; and also delivered fuel and LP propane gas.
Otto said he’d do field work in the morning, at nighttime and during the weekends. He also serves as chairman of the Wayne Township Planning Commission, and serves with the Friedensburg Fire Department. Although he’s retired, he still enjoys working on his collection of 17 antique tractors, including 15 John Deere and two Allis-Chalmers tractors.
Their son, Kenneth, lives on the Milton Snyder homestead. The Ottos built their current home, at 732 Schwartz Valley Road, next door in 1966.
Numbers recognized
Agriculture Secretary Russell C. Redding presented the Schaeffers and Ottos with their awards, along with nine other families who received the century farm designation; and three other families honored for their bicentennial farms.
There are three bicentennial farms, and 33 centennial farms in Schuylkill County, including the two most recently recognized farms, according to April R. Orwig, administrative officer 2 with the state Department of Agriculture, Harrisburg.
Statewide, 173 farms have been designated as bicentennial farms and 1,997 are listed as centennial farms, Orwig said Wednesday.
The state Department of Agriculture coordinated with the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, since this was the farm show’s 100th year, Orwig said, and decided to take photos of the honored farms. The farm owners received copies of those photos, along with the centennial farm signs. Farm history is filed in the archives of the museum commission.
‘Backbone’
Family-owned farms remain the backbone of the agriculture industry, Dwane L. Miller, Penn State Agricultural Extension Educator, Pottsville, said. According to the 2012 Census of Agriculture conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 97 percent of the 2.1 million farms in the United States are family owned businesses, he said.
“Here in Pennsylvania and Schuylkill County, we find a similar situation that the vast majority of farms are small, family owned operations. Agriculture has always been an industry which focused around family, often times with farms being passed on from generation to generation,” Miller said.
“The Bicentennial and Century farm programs are one way for us to recognize the heritage that family farms have played in Schuylkill County agriculture. To have any business remain in the same family ownership for 100 or more years is remarkable, and deserving of congratulations,” he said.
To receive a Century Farm or Bicentennial Farm designation, the farm must be at least 10 acres or have at least $1,000 in gross annual sales of agricultural commodities, and the same family must own it continuously for 100 or 200 years, respectively, according to the department.