Keeping a farm in the same family for 100 years or more is an accomplishment. Four Delaware families were recently lauded for that accomplishment during a ceremony with state agriculture officials.

“Our Century Farms are extremely important, and they help tell a story about the history of Delaware and about what agriculture means to this state,” says Michael T. Scuse, the state’s ag secretary. “From the early 1600s to today, during the transitions from one type of agriculture to another, and through the many challenges our producers have faced, they have been able to keep agriculture going and continue to be the number one industry in the state.”

The Delaware Century Farm Program was established in 1987 to honor farm families that have owned and farmed their land for at least 100 years. The farms must include at least 10 acres of the original parcel or gross more than $10,000 annually in agricultural sales. The program has honored 143 farms throughout the state.

“This is one of my favorite events of the year as we recognize families who have persevered for at least 100 years in the farming profession. I think that is truly a remarkable accomplishment,” says Austin Short, deputy ag secretary. “Farming is hard enough year-to-year, much less for 100 years through multiple generations. The fact that we have four families today who have achieved the Century Farm recognition, in some cases more than a hundred years, is a terrific achievement.”

Michael and Iris McCabe and family
The McCabe family is recognized for their 100-acre family farm in Dagsboro.  

Garrison McCabe, from Roxana, purchased 100 acres in 1914 for $2,200. McCabe and his wife, Martha, had eight children — five sons and three daughters — and one of their sons, John F. McCabe, purchased the farm from his parents in 1918. The farm passed to John’s widow, Ella, in 1960. Upon her death in 1963, their son Clarence and his wife, Anna, inherited the farm.

Clarence McCabe died in 1979, and Anna McCabe owned the farm until her death in 2006 when it was purchased by their son Michael and his wife, Iris, who still own the farm today.

Their son Brandon, the great-great grandson of Garrison, and his family now live in the house that was built by John F. McCabe in 1920.

Over the past 100 years, the farm has yielded wheat, corn, soybeans and vegetables. The farm has also produced poultry, swine and cattle.

The family now farms over 1,200 acres in Sussex County.

Mark Mihalik and family
The Mihalik family, who farm Oak Haven Farm in Bridgeville, are recognized for their 50-acre family farm in Nanticoke Hundred, east of Greenwood.   

Leroy and Bertha Webb of Greenwood bought 50 acres in April 1915 for $750. The Webbs had six children — three sons and three daughters — and one of their sons, Woodrow Webb, and his wife, Florence, purchased 48 acres of the farm in August 1960. Woodrow and Florence purchased the other 2 acres in December 1960 from Woodrow Webb’s niece.

Woodrow Webb died in 1997 and Florence Webb transferred 2 acres to Mark Mihalik, their grandson. She transferred an additional 5 acres to Mihalik in 2006 and the remaining acreage in 2017. Therefore, Mark Mihalik now owns the entire original farm.

MIHALIK FAMILY: Mark Mihalik’s family has been farming the same tract in Bridgeville since 1915. Here, Mihalik receives his family’s Century Farm Award from Michael T. Scuse, Delaware secretary of agriculture.

Over the past 100 years, the Mihalik-Webb farm has yielded corn, soybeans, vegetables and timber. Mihalik and his family now live on the farm, too.  

Craig and Connie Mumford Truitt
The 50-acre Truitt farm is in the Broad Creek Hundred, east of Seaford, in Sussex County.  

Allison Henry Mumford bought approximately 50 and 120 square perches on Jan. 2, 1918, for $1,218.50. In May 1918, Mumford purchased an adjoining farm totaling 29 acres and 42 square perches for $877.88.

Mumford and his wife, Minnie, had two children: Helen and Roland. Roland Mumford and his wife, Myrtle, acquired the farm in 1947. Roland and Myrtle’s daughter, Connie, acquired Roland’s half interest in the farm upon his death in 1995 and her mother’s half interest in 2002.

Connie and her husband, Craig Truit, now own the farm as part of Mumford & Truitt Farms LLC. 

Over the past 100 years, the farm has yielded corn, soybeans, wheat, cantaloupes, strawberries, sweet corn and watermelons. The farm also produces broilers.

MUMFORD FAMILY: The Mumford family of Seaford have been farming the same land since 1918. Pictured are Michael T. Scuse (left), Delaware secretary of agriculture; Connie Mumford Truitt; Craig Truitt; and their two sons.

In addition to the poultry houses, the buildings include a former livestock barn, a pole shed, a machinery shed, a farm shop, an old corn crib and the house where Connie and Craig Truitt now live.

Another interesting fact is that Connie’s father, Roland, operated a Massey Ferguson dealership on the farm from 1958 to 1963.

Thomas and Elizabeth Warren and family
The Warren family of Georgetown have been farming a 112-acre farm in Nanticoke Hundred, west of Georgetown.

In 1871, Hiram Isaacs acquired 122 acres and 23 square perches from his father’s (Minos Isaacs) estate for $704.55. Although it has not been verified, it is believed that Minos Isaacs acquired this farm in 1846 or perhaps earlier.

Hiram Isaacs and his wife, Maria, sold the farm in 1908 to his sister, Sarah, and her husband, Elzey Wilson. In 1912, Elzey and Sarah sold the farm to their son, Joshua Wilson, and his wife, Anna. Joshua Wilson died in 1957 and Anna Wilson died in 1972. The farm then transferred to their son, Sudler Wilson.

Following Sudler Wilson’s death in 1997, the farm was managed by his son, Nelson, as part of Sudler’s estate. Subsequently, 112 acres of the original farm were transferred to Nelson’s son, Thomas, in 2002. 

WARREN FAMILY: The Warren farm of Georgetown has been in the same family since 1871. Pictured are Martha (left), Tom, Claudia, Liz, Jillian and Tommy Warren, and Michael T. Scuse, Delaware secretary of agriculture.

Over the past 100 years, the farm has yielded wheat, corn, soybeans and timber. Thomas and his wife, Liz, and their children live on the farm, where the children raise sheep.

Source: Delaware Department of Agriculture