Pictured above is L to R: Dick Delk Speed Superintendent, Evan Edger, Mark Edger and Randy Apple Greenville CPS Plant Manager
If you drive rural Darke Co. roads you may have noticed a white Century Farm sign hanging here and there. This signed is earned by proving that your farm has been within the same family for a minimum of 100 years. Currently there are 22 Century Farms registered with the Ohio Dept. of Agriculture within Darke Co.
This year at the Great Darke Co. Fair these families will be honored for their long commitment to farming. On Friday August 28th following the first harness race Director Daniels from the Ohio Dept. of Agriculture, State Representative Jim Buchy,the Darke Co. Dept. of Agriculture, representatives of these 22 farms along with Crop Production Services will be in attendance to present the blanket to the winning horse.
One of the farms that will be represented is currently owned by Mark and Sondra Edger. The 79.40 acre Potter-Edger farm was originally purchased on January 21, 1829 by Daniel and Elizabeth Potter. The Potter’s later sold it to David and Mariah Potter on April 27, 1833. David and Mariah were the great-great-great grandparents of the present owner.
The Potter’s built a comfortable frame home on the farm around 1846. They were parents of four children; Elizabeth, Emeline, Mary and Henry. David set up a “sugar camp” in the yard where he boiled sap and made maple syrup selling it door to door in Greenville.
It was Mariah’s daughter Elizabeth who preserved the family farm for future generations. At Mariah’s death the farm was bequeathed to each of her four children. Elizabeth began to immediately regain the acres.
Elizabeth and her husband Joseph Beanblossom were parents of several children. At Elizabeth’s death in 1917 the original farm was left to her son George. George Beanblossom and his wife Fiana (Merkle) continued to improve the farm. At George’s death in 1939 the farm went to his three daughters; Ana Edger, Lizzie Beanblossom and Verna Skidmore. Ana and Lizzie soon purchased Verna’s one third interest and the two sisters shared ownership of the farm until 1969 when they sold it to Ana’s oldest son George and his wife.
George and Ruby Edger have four sons; David, Sam, Steve and Mark. The younger two, Steve and Mark, are engaged in farming. The original property is currently owned by Mark whose son in Tennessee still comes home each year to help. Mark’s sons plan on keeping the farm in the family for many more generations to come.
A special thanks is given to Crop Production Services who recognizes these families’ investment to the county and readily agreed to sponsor this event. Please join us at the Great Darke County Fair at 7:00 PM on August 28th to help congratulate these farmers who have proven that farming is truly a family endeavor that withstands the test of time. Admittance to the grand stand is free and this event will be followed by more exciting harness racing including the Three Diamond and Gene Riegle Memorial races.
If you’d like more information about the Century Farm program please visit their web site at: http://www.agri.ohio.gov/divs/cent_farms/
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