All contest posts in Agriculture.com Community

Re: My father passed April 12 2013, born 1925. Family farm a century farm, Father Army Veteran 1945

Jeanette Fields — Fri, 01 Nov 2013 11:47:47 GMT

Hi! I just came back to see who the winners were and wanted to tell you that you had one of the best, thats a very nice tractor and can tell your father loved it! Sorry about his passing .

My computer doesnt show me who won the contest. Do you know?

Re: ANNA CARTER FARM

AnnaDc — Thu, 01 Aug 2013 03:41:46 GMT

Our Farmstead is quite unique. My Great Grandpa (WILLIAM NEWTON MOORE)

fought in the Civil War, after returning home he and his brother moved to

Troopeville GA, , and my Grandpa found this spot in Milltown Ga. now

(Lakeland Ga.) Grandpa paid $300.00 for 480 acreas in 1864. The Creek

Indians were there before the first settlers, in fact, we have found arrow
heads on the farm.

William & Elizabeth raised seven children on
the farm. Atticus, their son
took over the farm at age 18. He married
Pearlie Tomlinson in 1904. Golie,
my mother was the first born. She lived
to be 96. Grandpa Atticus plowed
the fields with horses and mules. They
grew corn, cotton, sweet potatoes
and vegetables.   They raised chickens,
cows and hogs.   The cows made
plenty of milk and butter, mostly for meat
we used chicken and pork. The
pork was cured in the smoke house.   Also,
the corn was ground into grits,
and lets not forget about the cane syrup.
Atticus & Pearlie raised five
children. Grandma Pearlie died in 1942
with an ruptured appendix. Mama
said that she didn't talk alot. I can
understand that! She was busy
cooking, and washing clothes with a wash
board. She was a great seamstress
and made beautiful quilts.

Mama
married Shelton Davis in August, 1940. My sister Judy was born in
1941.
When grandma Pearlie died, Aunt Rosalie and grandpa continued to
operate
the farm. World War II was brewing in France and Germany.   The
two
brothers were drafted into the army, after completing basic training off
to
Germany they went.   November 25, 1944 they had a wonderful Thanksgiving

dinner together, uncle Mitchell died November 26, 1944 over Germany. What a

tragedy!

Grandpa Atticus died in 1947. The property was divided
among the four
children. Mama's part was 111 acres. Daddy and mama worked
very hard.
They carried on the same traditions as their parents.   By the
1940's
tobacco became a money crop, the tobacco was planted mostly by hand.
When
it was time to harvest, people walked through the rows and picked the
ripe
tobacco and they placed it a sled driven by a mule, then you would
take it
it the barn. At the barn you would have a stringer and two people
to hand
to the stringer, then the next step was to hang it in the tobacco
barn. The
first barns were cooked by wood, as time passed gas was much
easier and
faster

Daddy also planted corn and cotton. We always had
a big garden, what we
didn't eat or put in the freezer, daddy would sell.
Daddy and mama raised 3
daughters and they taught us how to work, made us go
to school, carried us
to church, and taught us to love our
neighbor.

Now it is just Roy and Anna's family that live on the farm.
This is the
first time we have rented the farm out . As I look back on the
past
generations and the happy times and the hardships that our family
endured it
makes me count my blessings.   It makes me especially happy to
have lived on
a beautiful farm in Georgia and be a part of six generations
that have lived
and worked on the farm.   After aunt Rosalie died in 1990
Anna and Roy
restored her old farm house and it is used for family and
community events
and gatherings. The old family house is over 130 years
old.

The use of machines has greatly changed farm life.   In the past,
farmers
had to plow with mules and work the fields by hand with a hoe.
After the
1940's equipment, such as tractors, began to replace human and
animal power.

ANNA CARTER FARM

AnnaDc — Thu, 01 Aug 2013 03:37:57 GMT

Re: Sparkling Waters Farm

banana05 — Thu, 01 Aug 2013 02:13:20 GMT

The next generation - Daren and Michelle - fall of 2012

Sparkling Waters Farm Description Essay

Sparkling Waters Farm has been in the Good family for three generations and is located in Lancaster County Pennsylvania, just outside the historic town of Lititz. Lititz is known for Wilbur Chocolate, Julius Sturgis Pretzels, and was recently voted “Coolest Small Town in America” by Budget Travel Magazine. The farm obtained its name from the Hammer Creek which runs through the property. The afternoon sun reflecting off the creek gives a beautiful “sparkling” effect.

My Grandfather, Ira M. Good, purchased the farm in 1942. He and his wife, Ruth, raised their seven boys together on the farm. When purchased, the buildings were in disrepair but the soil was considered exceptionally good for the area. Eventually the farm was transformed from a beef finishing operation to a small dairy operation. Even with the responsibilities of the farm as well as being ordained as a minister in the Mennonite church, Ira encouraged his boys to pursue higher education before deciding whether or not to stay on the farm. After attending college, serving overseas and several years of teaching, Ira’s 2^nd oldest son, Leon (my father), decided to follow in his father’s footsteps and purchased the farm.

Born in 1982, I was the youngest of four children and at the time my father was milking a small herd of 40 Holsteins. He continued the dairy operation until 1987 when he sold the herd and returned to teaching. For the next 20 years, the farm was either rented to a neighbor or cash cropped with the help of my older brother and myself. My father saw the importance of land stewardship and in 1999, he started working with Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Land Studies Inc., and other agencies to restore the creek banks, install grassed water ways, and contour fields. In 2011, Leon and his wife, Elaine, were rewarded for their efforts with the Soil Conservationist of the Year award from the Lancaster County Conservation District.

After high school, I moved to Virginia where I attended college and married my wife, Michelle. While I knew my true love was farming, I became an operator for a local excavation contractor. Even after moving back to Pennsylvania in 2008, I continued to work in the construction field as I started to increase my involvement at the farm. In 2010, we purchased a few beef animals to begin a small cow/calf operation, but the income still wasn’t enough to justify farming full time.

In 2012, we entered into an agreement with Heritage Poultry Management and Pete & Gerry’s Organic Eggs to build two cage free organic layer houses. This would finally allow me to work on the farm full time. Last November, we received our first flock of chickens and it’s been a wonderful addition to the farm. In the years to come, I look forward to following in my father and grandfathers’ footsteps and purchase the farm. This is my home and one day I hope to raise my own family at Sparkling Waters Farm.

Re: Sparkling Waters Farm

banana05 — Thu, 01 Aug 2013 02:11:19 GMT

View from the side yard down to the creek and pastures. The zipline (far right) was built in early 90's and will carry its rider across the creek.

Re: Sparkling Waters Farm

banana05 — Thu, 01 Aug 2013 02:09:29 GMT

Footbridge crossing the Hammer Creek which runs through the property and is how "Sparkling Waters Farm" gets its name. This bridge was built by my father in 1982 and has only been damaged one time by flood waters in 30 years (Hurricane Lee in 2011).

Re: Sparkling Waters Farm

banana05 — Thu, 01 Aug 2013 02:07:21 GMT

New chicken houses built in 2012 run parallel to the old farm lane which leads to the rest of the farmstead.

Re: Sparkling Waters Farm

banana05 — Thu, 01 Aug 2013 02:04:41 GMT

The smokehouse complete with belfry.

Re: Sparkling Waters Farm

banana05 — Thu, 01 Aug 2013 02:03:06 GMT

Thriving sweet corn in front of the corn barn built in 1950 by my grandfather.

Re: Sparkling Waters Farm

banana05 — Thu, 01 Aug 2013 02:02:15 GMT

Limestone bank barn built in 1819. I owe a lot credit to my mother for the day lillies and other flowers that grace the property.

Re: Sparkling Waters Farm

banana05 — Thu, 01 Aug 2013 02:00:44 GMT

The farm house built circa 1820

Re: Sparkling Waters Farm

banana05 — Thu, 01 Aug 2013 01:59:59 GMT

View from the highest point on the property. The poultry houses were added in 2012.

Re: Sparkling Waters Farm

banana05 — Thu, 01 Aug 2013 01:58:12 GMT

Sparkling Waters - 2005. This is a good view of the field contours.

Re: Sparkling Waters Farm

banana05 — Thu, 01 Aug 2013 01:54:55 GMT

Sparkling Waters - 2001. This photo was taken shortly after the stream restoration project was completed.

Re: Sparkling Waters Farm

banana05 — Thu, 01 Aug 2013 01:52:47 GMT

Sparkling Waters - 1964

Sparkling Waters Farm

banana05 — Thu, 01 Aug 2013 01:51:34 GMT

Sparkling Waters Farm

banana05 — Thu, 01 Aug 2013 01:50:44 GMT

Sparkling Waters Farm

banana05 — Thu, 01 Aug 2013 01:49:42 GMT

Sparkling Waters Farm

banana05 — Thu, 01 Aug 2013 01:46:55 GMT

Sparkling Waters Farm

banana05 — Thu, 01 Aug 2013 01:45:59 GMT