All in the family: Benshoffs recently honored by Cambria farm bureau
Cindy Benshoff loads a pumpkin onto the wagon at Benshoff Farms of New Germany. The Benshoff family recently was named Farm Family of the Year by the Cambria County Farm Bureau. Mirror photo by Walt Frank
Elizabeth and Jim Benshoff relax on the swing at their farm, which was started in 1955 when Jim’s father, Paul, purchased the property. Jim and Elizabeth took over operations in the early 1970s and run it with help from their daughter Cindy, granddaughter, Stephanie, and great-granddaughter, Lizzy. Grandson Alex helps in the summer. Mirror photo by Walt Frank /
Stephanie Benshoff and her grandfather, Jim Benshoff, carry pumpkins to the wagon. Mirror photo by Walt Frank
Cindy Benshoff loads a pumpkin onto the wagon at Benshoff Farms of New Germany. The Benshoff family recently was named Farm Family of the Year by the Cambria County Farm Bureau. Mirror photo by Walt Frank
Elizabeth and Jim Benshoff relax on the swing at their farm, which was started in 1955 when Jim’s father, Paul, purchased the property. Jim and Elizabeth took over operations in the early 1970s and run it with help from their daughter Cindy, granddaughter, Stephanie, and great-granddaughter, Lizzy. Grandson Alex helps in the summer. Mirror photo by Walt Frank /
Stephanie Benshoff and her grandfather, Jim Benshoff, carry pumpkins to the wagon. Mirror photo by Walt Frank
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NEW GERMANY -- The traditions planted nearly seven decades ago are bearing crops making an area farm an honored institution.
"We've been in vegetables all of our life," Jim Benshoff said. "My grandfather George Benshoff and great grandfather Solomon Benshoff were also in the vegetable business."
Jim and his wife, Elizabeth, own Benshoff Farms of New Germany.
The Benshoff family was recently honored as the Farm Family of the Year by the Cambria County Farm Bureau. The award is given to a worthy family that has a good history of farming and Farm Bureau involvement.
"Jim Benshoff and his family have been active Farm Bureau members for as long as I can remember. Jim has served as our county membership chairman for many years. He has always been active and interested in local issues, particularly wildlife damage to crops.
He is an active participant in policy development and is a member of our legislative committees that meet with our county commissioners and other elected officials annually," President Marty Yahner said.
The award was first presented in 2016 -- to Yahner's family -- but is not given out every year. The Benshoffs are the fifth family to receive the honor.
"It is quite an honor, really unexpected. … I am in pretty tall company with the others named previously," Jim Benshoff said.
"I think it's an honor, it was a lot of work; I am proud to be a farm wife," Elizabeth Benshoff said.
The farm near New Germany was started in 1955 when Jim's father, Paul, purchased the property from Eva Stiffler. Jim and Elizabeth took over operations in the early 1970s and run it today with help from their daughter Cindy, granddaughter, Stephanie, and great-granddaughter, Lizzy. Grandson Alex helps in the summer.
The farm has always grown vegetables.
"When I was young, it was primarily potatoes, cabbage and oats. Now we grow peppers, tomatoes, sweet corn, snap beans. ... In the fall, pumpkins are our big thing. We are also one of five seed oats producers in the state of Pennsylvania," Jim Benshoff said.
In the 1970s and 1980s, the Benshoffs farmed more than 300 acres, today they farm only 16 acres.
For years their top products have been potatoes and cabbage.
"Jim is first and foremost an expert potato grower who has carved a nice niche for his family growing potatoes and cabbage," said Thomas G. Ford, commercial horticulture educator, Penn State Extension.
Benshoff Farms supplies potatoes for area restaurants such as Al's Tavern in Altoona.
"I've been buying from Benshoff Farms for 20 years or more. It is the quality of the potato. … They are just terrific potatoes with a great taste," owner Al Coppeta said.
Benshoff Farms provides cabbage to Holland Brothers Meats, Duncansville.
"Benshoff Farms has provided us with some of the highest-quality cabbage in the area. Jim and his family farm plays a pivotal role in the local community and has made a huge impact on the success of our local sauerkraut. We recently placed an order for 18,000 pounds of cabbage to be delivered this fall so we can make more of our delicious sauerkraut," owner Brock Holland said.
Benshoff Farms opened a retail market on the farm in 2007.
"We are open every day, August through New Years. It is just a small farm market selling the vegetables that we grow," Jim Benshoff said.
Benshoff Farms is an all-family operation.
"We have had young people help us over the years, people who became judges, attorneys, doctors and nurses and lots of engineers," Jim Benshoff said.
Jim Benshoff has been active in the community, serving on numerous boards.
In addition to being membership chair of the Cambria County Farm Bureau, he is a director of the Cambria County Agricultural Conservation District, a member of Penn State Extension, a director of Cambria County Land Preservation Board and a member of Pennsylvania Vegetable Growers Association.
One word sums up the reason for Benshoff Farms success: "Quality. We guarantee every sale. If you have a problem, come to me and I will fix it," Jim Benshoff said.
He said he has no plans to retire and hopes his granddaughter, Stephanie, will eventually take over the farm.
Mirror Staff Writer Walt Frank is at 814-946-7467.