Charles A. “Chuck” Hoober of Elkton, Md., and the Mark Urian family of Clayton, Del., got top honors at this year’s Kent County Farm Bureau annual banquet.

Hoober, director of customer satisfaction at Hoober Inc., is the winner of the Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award while the Urians were named Farm Family of the Year.

Growing the family business

Through his high school and college days, Hoober worked in all areas of his family’s business. Following graduation from Messiah College, he worked in service management at the Intercourse, Pa., location. 

In 1989, Hoober became the store manager of the Middletown, Del., location until he became corporate sales manager in 2006. When leadership of the company transitioned to the third generation in 2012, Hoober, Scott Hoober and their brother-in-law, Rod Lefever, became partners in managing the company.

In 2018, the company brought in a new president and CEO, and Hoober became director of customer satisfaction.

Hoober serves on the Lancaster County Agricultural Council board of directors, Messiah College President’s Leadership Council, and is involved with the Cecil and New Castle county farm bureaus.

In 2005, he received the Distinguished Service to New Castle County Agriculture Award.

HONORED FOR SERVICE: Rep. Charles Postles (left) presented the Distinguished Service to Agriculture Award to Chuck Hoober on behalf of Kent County Farm Bureau at the organization's annual banquet in Felton.

The Hoobers have been instrumental in bringing key products and innovations to Delaware farmers. For more than 30 years, Hoober has worked directly with farmers and brought their concerns, challenges and ideas to major manufacturers. He has helped bring about product improvements and innovations geared to help maximize farmers’ productivity. His involvement in the ag community helps bridge the gap from the farmers’ needs to the farm machinery that is produced to serve those needs.

Hoober and his wife, Diane, have three children — Eric, Rachel and Marisa. Hoober’s faith is also a critical part of his life; he actively attends The Town Church in Middletown, Del.

Farming dream achieved

Mark Urian’s parents —Charlie and Mary — bought a farm outside of Clayton, Del., in 1962 to pursue their dream of farming.

They built a new house for themselves and their four children — Jane, Betty, Charlotte and Mark. Charlie put in a large garden and planted corn and soybeans the following spring. He farmed while continuing to work at what was then Clements Supply Co. They later added a small beef herd.

After Charlie's sudden death in 1976 the family chipped in as much as they could, but they ended up leasing the ground after young Mark farmed it during his last two years of high school. After a few years, Mark married Sandy and a new generation of Urians would grow up on the farm: Jacob, Amanda and Rebecca.

Mark worked for various employers over the years including Shadybrook Farms, Hoober and Atlantic Tractor, while running the farm in his spare time.

Mark and Sandy have both had health setbacks over the past couple of years, but with Jacob’s help they continue to run the farm. They grow corn, soybeans and hay.

Jacob and his wife, Melissa, are currently working to grow the beef operation. Jacob has been diligently working to pick up more ground the past few years and helps his uncle farm whenever possible.

Mark and Sandy’s children have been involved in 4H, FFA and Farm Bureau. Amanda is raising her own family in Nebraska on her husband’s family farm, and Rebecca expects to move back to the family farm soon.

Mark and Sandy still strive to be active in Farm Bureau, Smyrna FFA Alumni, Grange and various groups at Townsend Free Will Baptist Church.

Mary Urian, who helped start the farm, turned 100 years old this year and still lives at the edge of the family farm.

Source: Kent County Farm Bureau, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.