“It is an award I’ve known about for years but didn’t focus on,” he said, adding it’s an honor he didn’t expect in his line of work.

Long, whose mother Sarah Long won the award in 1999, said the fact he won the award “hasn’t sunk in yet.”

“To be the second generation of a family to win the award is quite an honor,” he said.

The ACE Award was started as a continuation and expansion of the chamber’s Farm Family of the Year Award, which began in 1970. It is an effort by the chamber to recognize all facets that make agriculture a primary industry in the county.

Long

Long, who owns Long’s Field Service and is a former president of the Blair County Farm Bureau, will be honored Wednesday, Nov. 12, at the Chamber’s Farm City Dinner at Morrisons Cove Memorial Park in Martinsburg.

Joe Diamond, regional organization director of the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau and chair of the chamber’s farm-city committee, said Long is a deserving winner.

“Over the years he has invested in the equipment needed to serve other farmers in need of such services. He has also donated his time and use of his equipment to help maintain the grounds at Fort Roberdeau Historic Site, a county park. Growing up on a family farm, he passed his love for agriculture on to his three children who have grown up with a passion for agriculture, and they each have pursued their own interests related to farming over the years,” Diamond said.

Diamond pointed out that Long has been a long-time advocate for the agriculture industry, served on the Blair County Farm Bureau Board, currently serves on the Blair County Conservation District Board and is president of the Sinking Valley Fair board.

“I think Gary is an excellent choice for our ACE award. His involvement in his local ag community as well as county, regional and state initiatives is to be commended,” said Donna Fisher, district manager of the Blair County Conservation District. “He is a prime example of excellence in Blair County agriculture.”

A 1980 graduate of Tyrone Area High School, Long grew up on his family’s farm in Tyrone Township. He admits he didn’t like animals.

“I always wanted to farm but didn’t like animals. I didn’t like to milk cows but they paid the bills,” Long said.

In 1992, Long went to work for Tyrone Milling before starting his own business, Long’s Field Service, in 1998.

“I own the equipment and farmers pay me to plant and harvest their crops. Small family farms couldn’t afford to buy the equipment that they may use ten days out of the year. I bought the equipment, it was more feasible for them. Today I cover about 7,000 acres a year in Sinking Valley, Eden Hill and Warriors Mark areas, within a ten-mile radius. I used to go to Williamsburg, State College and Huntingdon,” Long said.

Larry Pruss of Eventide Farm in the Eden Hill area, has been a customer of Long’s for about 20 years.

“He takes care of it like it is his own crop, he won’t work when it is too wet, he checks the seeds to make sure they are planted right. He is very good at what he does. He is a good guy and also a good steward of the soil,” Pruss said. “He keeps his equipment in good shape and checks it every day.”

Long got involved with the farm bureau in 2000 when he encountered problems moving his equipment on area roads. The allowable width of equipment back then was eight feet. Long said that needed to be wider since farm equipment had grown in size and structure.

He contacted then-state Rep. Richard A. Geist, R-79th District, who was chairman of the House Transportation Committee.

In 2012, the state’s General Assembly approved legislation that would increase the width allowance of farm equipment that can be transported up to 16 feet.

“Rick had said it would take time, he needed to find a transportation bill that would fly without a problem and he could add an attachment. This was around 2010. My name is attached to it, Rick called from the floor to tell me the 16 feet was approved,” Long said. “My story took 12 years to get accomplished to move my equipment up and down roads legally.”

Long served as president of the Blair County Farm Bureau twice, from 2009-13 and from 2015-21. He is no longer on the board of directors but is willing to help when needed.

“In my job, the business kept me in the loop with farmers and their issues. I know what farmers’ concerns are,” Long said. “The farming industry is a different group of people, they like to solve their problems themselves, they don’t like to go outside to get help. We worked together, and they felt comfortable talking to me to solve their problems.”

Long was appointed to serve on the board of the Blair County Conservation District in 2007, succeeding his father Franklin Long. He has been secretary/treasurer since 2021.

“Gary is a dedicated board member and strives to promote the district mission along with the continued promotion and advancement of Blair County agriculture,” Fisher said.

Long is proud of his service to the community and is glad he has helped others through his business and time with the farm bureau on the local, state and national levels.

“I am proud of my years on the farm bureau and to start a business from scratch and take it full term. I got into it at the right time, the price of milk was steady but input costs were going up on the farm. Farmers were looking for ways to save money. … I filled a void for those guys. When their equipment got old they hired me,” Long said.

Long said his business is not work.

“I don’t go to work, I go to play. I enjoy what I do. I don’t need to punch a time clock,” he said.

His hours are flexible, but he admits it is a very demanding job.

“Sometimes when it is raining I can’t do anything,” he said.

While he is still working full time, Long said he is looking ahead to retirement.

“I am not buying more equipment,” he said. “When it is done, I will be done. It will be staged out; my clients understand.”

Mirror Staff Writer Walt Frank is at 814-946-7467.