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Who we are and our history Mercer-Vu Farms Inc. has a 50 plus year history at its Karper Rd location just west of Mercersburg, Pennsylvania. Glenn and Mae Hissong purchased the home farm from James Karper in 1949. Mr. Karper bottled and sold milk locally. Glenn and Mae started with 7 cows and by 1960 they had purchased a neighboring farm and were milking 60 cows. In 1964 their son Ron had graduated from high school and in 1971, along with his wife Judy, they formed a partnership. In 1972 the farm started an expansion, which included a new freestall barn and a double 8-milking parlor. The herd grew to 100 cows and in 1980 Ron and Judy bought out the partnership and became sole proprietors of the operation. Soon after they purchased another neighboring farm and the herd grew to 120 cows.
In 1993 Rick, Ron and Judy’s oldest son, joined the operation after graduating from Penn State with a degree in Agricultural Mechanization. Soon after in 1996 the farm began a fairly aggressive plan for expansion. A new 207 stall slatted floor freestall barn was built as well as bunker silos. The herd grew to around 200 cows. In 1998 their youngest son Rod returned home to the operation after graduating from Penn State with a degree in Dairy and Animal Science. Growth continued to its present size. In 1999 a sub S corporation was formed to pass ownership on to the next generation. Today Ron and Judy are one third owners with Rick and Rod each owning a third of the operation.
Mercer-Vu Farms Inc. was one of the first farms in the county to receive financial support for the construction of manure facilities under the Chesapeake Bay Program. In 1993 the farm was named Franklin County conservation farm of the year. In 1999 Mercer-Vu Farms Inc. hosted the Franklin County Fall Farm Fun Fest. About 850 local 4th graders and 2000 community members attended over a three-day period.
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Entrance to farm |
