Franklin County Highlights Agriculture on National Farmers Day
Franklin County marked National Farmers Day on October 12 by sharing insights into its vibrant agricultural sector and farmland preservation efforts.
County Agricultural Achievements
- Farm Count: Home to over 1,400 farms.
- Agricultural Production: Leading Pennsylvania in vegetable, melon, potato, and sweet potato cultivation.
- Rank in State: Second for total cropland and milk production, third for grains, fruits, berries, and cattle, and fifth for total annual agricultural cash receipts estimated at $655 million.
Farmland Preservation
Franklin County has preserved over 20,600 acres of farmland across 170 farms, investing more than $45 million since 1990 in partnership with the Commonwealth.
Obituaries
- Gerald C. Lawver (1936-2026): Owned and operated an excavating business, dug graves for local cemeteries.
- Lawrence W. Beck Sr. (1949-2026): Retired from Letterkenny Army Depot in 2014, enjoyed Nascar and drag racing.
- Graciela S. Terrazas (1933-2026): Worked at Menno Haven for 25 years and taught Spanish at Wilson College for 20 years.
- Lena Lorraine Brown (1925-2026): Talented painter, needlecrafter, writer, and avid reader.
- Phyllis H. Shafer (1938-2026): Known for her warm welcome and caring nature, no one was a stranger to her for long.
- Jeanette M. Gift Caratozzola (1965-2026): Loved spending time with grandkids and attended their sporting events and school activities.
Upcoming Events
- CVBA Business Breakfast: Featuring federal reserve economist Ryo Tashiro on December 16.
- Capitol Theatre History: Celebrating 100 years with Paul Cullinane, a community volunteer and ambassador.