Joe Burkhart, Richard Farabaugh and Bill Farabaugh (from left) are pictured in front of their 1939 John Deere tractor at the Farabaugh Farm south of Carrolltown. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski

CARROLLTOWN — It’s not easy to sustain a family farm for more than 100 years.

Farabaugh Farm, along Route 219 just south of Carrolltown, was honored as Cambria County’s 33rd century farm during Ag Progress Days in August.

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture created the Century Farm Program in 1977 and the Bicentennial Farm Program in 2004. More than 2,340 century and bicentennial farms and two tricentennial farms have been recognized.

To receive century or bicentennial farm status, the same family must own the same farm for at least 100 or 200 years and must live on the farm. The farm also needs to have at least 10 acres of the original holding or gross more than $1,000 annually from selling farm products.

William A. Farabaugh purchased 123 acres for $8,500 from Andrew Strittmatter in East Carroll Township in 1918.

His grandson, William J. Farabaugh, who owns the farm today with his brother, Richard, and brother-in-law, Joseph Burkhart, said the farm used to be called State Road Farm and dates back to at least 1796.

The family is honored to be recognized.

“It felt pretty good. I had been thinking about it for years, I found a clipping several years ago in Lancaster Farming on how to do it. My daughter Michelle Dickerson did a lot of the work,” William J. Farabaugh said.

William A. Farabaugh raised dairy cows and chickens and did custom thrashing for area residents. The dairy farm transitioned into beef cattle about 1957, with his son Faber taking over operations in 1968.

Faber Farabaugh was a lifelong farmer in Cambria County, known for his family’s long history in agriculture. He served as a township supervisor, constable and fire warden for years.

“Faber was widely respected in the community and a no-BS kind of guy. He was a very practical man like most farmers. He was one of the last people to use draft horses, they did all of their work with horses,” said long-time neighbor and fellow farmer Tom Bender.

The Farabaughs sold their last horses in 1995.

Neighbor Bob Veneskey, who owns Veneskey Homestead Farm, which was named a century farm in 2016, has known the family for more than 50 years.

“Over the years, they were pretty significant in the ag community. They are good guys, as nice as you can find. He knows what it takes to keep a large piece of ground in play for 100 years — that is quite a feat,” Veneskey said. “If everyone was as honest as they are, you wouldn’t need a police department.”

Today, they continue to raise beef cattle and grow hay on 56 acres, as well as produce hay on their neighbor’s property. Their main business is selling hay for horses, making more than 3,000 small square hay bales each year.

“We only have six beef cattle today. We sell mostly to family and a few friends. We used to have about 35,” William J. Farabaugh said.

Tim Fye of Nanty Glo has been buying Farabaugh beef for at least 10 years.

“I’ve known Bill for a long time. It is good beef and I have no complaints. The price is right, too,” Fye said.

William J., Richard and Burkhart found time to run the farm while working for the railroad in Altoona. All three are now retired. William’s son Russell works for Norfolk Southern as a general foreman.

“We worked different shifts and had different days off. When you had hay you had to bale, when you got off work you had to bale it,” said Richard Farabaugh, who lives in nearby Hastings.

The family continues to use their grandfather’s tractor from 1939.

“We did a small overhaul last year. My granddad bought it new and we still have it. He paid about $700 for it. Our newest tractor is from 1968,” Farabaugh said.

The price of fertilizer and fuel are among the biggest challenges facing the farm today.

“Some days you wonder why you do it,” he said.

As far as the future, William hopes his son Russell will take over the farm.

“None of us plan to retire soon,” William, 68, said. Richard is 78 and Joseph Burkhart is 72.