Family farms in Berks, Centre, Greene, Northumberland, Perry, and Westmoreland counties earn the historic designation.
Pennsylvania Furnace, PA – Today, Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding honored George R. and Barbara A. Hess of Berks County, and Harry and Mary Hamill of Westmoreland County, naming their farms PA Bicentennial Farms for having been in the same family for 200 years. Four additional families from Centre, Greene, Northumberland, and Perry counties were honored for earning the Centennial Farm designation for passing their farms down through the same family for 100 years.
“These families embody the best of Pennsylvania agriculture and our commonwealth’s heritage,” said Secretary Redding. “They have not only been tirelessly devoted to feeding our communities for generations, but they are also passing down their family legacy to feed Pennsylvania’s future. I am proud to honor these families on behalf of the Shapiro Administration. We are indebted to them for their perseverance, and we look to their example of productivity and progress for all of us.”
Governor Josh Shapiro’s bipartisan 2024-25 budget includes new investments in agriculture innovation and conservation to keep Pennsylvania a national leader, including a new $10 million Agriculture Innovation and Conservation Fund, plus $35 million in new dollars for ACAP, and another $5 million for the Nutrient Management fund.
Since the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture started the Century Farm program in 1977 and the Bicentennial Farm program in 2004, more than 2,332 Century and Bicentennial Farms have received the honors. This year, the second Tricentennial Farm was recognized during the PA Farm Show in January.
Today’s recognition ceremony was held at Penn State’s Ag Progress Days, an annual agriculture exposition that draws tens of thousands of visitors to learn about the latest agriculture research, technology, equipment, and innovation driving Pennsylvania forward.
Farms recognized include:
Berks County
George R. and Barbara A. Hess Farm, Shoemakersville – Bicentennial Farm, est. 1805
George’s great, great, great grandfather, Jacob Seidel bought the original 288 acres for 5.39 British pounds per acre. Built in 1856, the original farmhouse and a springhouse are still in use. A portion of the farm is preserved through a conservation easement purchased in 2004, ensuring that it will remain farmland forever. There are 34 Century and 13 Bicentennial farms in the county.
Centre County
Hall Family Farm, Port Matilda – Century Farm, est. 1896
Siblings Thomas and William Hall and Janis Goodman’s great grandfather Robert A. Way was the original owner. The beef farm was preserved earlier this year by a conservation easement. Centre County is home to 43 Century and two Bicentennial farms.
Greene County
Sharon Smith Family Farm, Waynesburg – Century Farm, est. 1901
A 364.65-acre Black Angus beef and produce farm purchased by Smith from her grandparents, James Monroe and Fannie Stewart, in 1974. Some original buildings are still in use. There are 32 Century and three Bicentennial farms in Greene County.
Northumberland County
Bonita and John F. Troxell, Jr. Farm, Northumberland – Century Farm, est. 1851
The Troxells took over ownership of John’s great, great grandfather Henry Franklin Geise in 1989. Prior to that John’s grandparents received a portion of the farm as a wedding gift. Geise had served on the local school board, was instrumental in starting the township’s first phone company, and served on the board of directors for Northumberland National Bank. The local grange met at the farm. There are 39 Century and four Bicentennial farms in Northumberland County.
Perry County
Richard and Ivonne Bucher Farm, Millerstown – Century Farm, est. 1850
Originally purchased by Daniel Bucher, one of three brothers who emigrated from Germany to Philadelphia in 1715, the corn and soybean farm includes a log cabin from the original homestead and another home built in 1790. Both are still in use. Perry County has 37 Century and five Bicentennial farms.
Westmoreland County
Harry and Mary Hamill Farm, Ligonier – Bicentennial Farm, est. 1761
Harry’s great, great, great, great grandfather John Hamill received the original 439 acres as a land grant. An immigrant from Ireland, he was a farmer, an attorney, and Fairfield Township’s constable. The original springhouse and a home built in 1892 remain on the farm, along with a two-story log home. The livestock farm is one of 11 Bicentennial Farms in Westmoreland County, where there are also 36 Century Farms.
To learn more about Pennsylvania’s Farmland Preservation Program and investments in a secure, sustainable future for Pennsylvania, visit agriculture.pa.gov.
Learn how Governor Josh Shapiro’s Economic Development Strategy recognizes agriculture as key to our future economic success, and find more investments in a strong future for Pennsylvania agriculture at shapirobudget.pa.gov.
