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Darke County Fair to
honor local farming families
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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