Thursday, April 27, 2023
Wednesday, April 26, 2023
Tuesday, April 25, 2023
The Columbia County Conservation District to honored to announce the 2023 R.J. Campbell Cooperator of the Year:
The Broyan Family Operation: Faihopity Farms
Faihopity Farms is a multigenerational farm operated by the Broyan family. The Broyan’s great-grandfather purchased the first farm in the 1920s in Conygnham, followed by farms in Nescopeck and Berwick. They are currently operated by multiple fourth-generation families that reside at the home farm in Berwick.
Faihopity Farms’ operation is mainly dairy, with 400 cows. Replacements are raised in Nescopeck at their heifer facility. They grow corn, beans and hay at all farm locations and recently, they added vegetables into the rotation. The Broyan family take great pride in Faihopity Farms’ operations and incorporate sustainable farming practices to minimize their footprint on the environment and add value to their farm products. Their conservation and agriculture best management practices include:
Silage leachate and milk house waste water collection systems were installed to prevent runoff to Briar Creek. The waste is pumped and stored to spread on the fields.
Stormwater and erosion were addressed with the installation of a grass-lined drainage swale that absorbs stormwater and nutrients before reaching the creek. A diversion ditch was installed to stop severe erosion from a field gulley and rain gutters were installed with outlets directed to the new grass-lined waterway.
The Broyan family are also very supportive of district programs and events by attending events, serving as a panel speaker, and hosting a soil health field day at their Berwick farm.
On behalf of the Columbia County Conservation District, I am honored to present The Broyan Family of Faihopity Farms with the District’s R.J. Campbell Award, 2023 Cooperator of the Year. Thank you for your important agriculture practices and work with the conservation district. We are excited for your agriculture and conservation efforts that protect our natural resources, improve water quality, and create a positive impact on the community and the local economy.
Congratulations!
The Broyan Family Operation: Faihopity Farms
Faihopity Farms is a multigenerational farm operated by the Broyan family. The Broyan’s great-grandfather purchased the first farm in the 1920s in Conygnham, followed by farms in Nescopeck and Berwick. They are currently operated by multiple fourth-generation families that reside at the home farm in Berwick.
Faihopity Farms’ operation is mainly dairy, with 400 cows. Replacements are raised in Nescopeck at their heifer facility. They grow corn, beans and hay at all farm locations and recently, they added vegetables into the rotation. The Broyan family take great pride in Faihopity Farms’ operations and incorporate sustainable farming practices to minimize their footprint on the environment and add value to their farm products. Their conservation and agriculture best management practices include:
- No-till planting.
- Cover crops. Rye cover crops are harvested for spring forage.
- Incorporating pollinators with crops. Their corn and sunflower fields were a hit!
- Soybean press. Extracted oil is added to diesel fuel. Dried beans are fed to cattle.
- Streambank fencing project:
- Stream structure project:
- Manure storage and leachate system project:
Silage leachate and milk house waste water collection systems were installed to prevent runoff to Briar Creek. The waste is pumped and stored to spread on the fields.
Stormwater and erosion were addressed with the installation of a grass-lined drainage swale that absorbs stormwater and nutrients before reaching the creek. A diversion ditch was installed to stop severe erosion from a field gulley and rain gutters were installed with outlets directed to the new grass-lined waterway.
The Broyan family are also very supportive of district programs and events by attending events, serving as a panel speaker, and hosting a soil health field day at their Berwick farm.
On behalf of the Columbia County Conservation District, I am honored to present The Broyan Family of Faihopity Farms with the District’s R.J. Campbell Award, 2023 Cooperator of the Year. Thank you for your important agriculture practices and work with the conservation district. We are excited for your agriculture and conservation efforts that protect our natural resources, improve water quality, and create a positive impact on the community and the local economy.
Congratulations!
The Columbia County Conservation District is honored to announce the 2023 Educator of the Year:
Denise Bosworth
Denise lives in Catawissa with her husband and three children. A native of Catawissa, Denise moved to the Philadelphia area after graduating from college. She worked in corporate human resources and education with a focus on job training. In 2013, Denise and her family returned to Catawissa to work on her family’s farm, managing and operating the Rohrbach’s Farm Market and orchards. She and her husband also started their BBQ business, Big Dan’s BBQ.
Since her return to Columbia County, Denise has been very busy operating Rohrbach’s Farm Market and orchards as a fourth-generation owner. Her business plan included diversifying the farm and adapting the business to be relevant to people’s needs. Denise saw a need for kids’ activities that provide affordable outside recreation and education. She filled this void by using the farm as a platform for agri-education and agri-tourism to increase agriculture awareness through education activities, a summer learning series, and new last year, an Ag Camp.
Education is a natural fit and priority for Denise. She is passionate about sharing the importance and exciting opportunities in agriculture. She is eager to educate through partnerships that have evolved the farm’s education experience to what it is today. The children’s summer learning series that started with 10 kids attending now sees 30 or more kids in attendance every week. Denise has taken her agri-education programs on the road to school visits, the Bloomsburg Children’s Museum, and Girl Scouts. Her education outreach has also expanded to adults, presenting at meetings, serving as a panel speaker on agriculture at conferences, and hosting workshops at the farm market, such as their upcoming rain barrel workshop partnered with the Conservation District.
In addition to raising a family and operating Rohrbach’s Farm Market, Denise volunteers on the Columbia County Ag Awareness Event planning team and a FFA Career Ag Advisory Committee. With all of this, Denise also found time to write a children’s book. Penelope Pumpkin was published in 2021 and her second book about growing strawberries will be released this spring. Her books explain the importance of agriculture and life on their family farm.
On behalf of the Columbia County Conservation District, I am honored to present Denise Bosworth with the District’s 2023 Environmental Education Achievement Award. Thank you for your dedication and commitment to the Columbia County community in the field of environmental education. We look forward to a continued partnership with you and Rohrbach’s Farm Market to instill important values that support agriculture, conservation, and protect natural resources.
Congratulations!
Denise Bosworth
Denise lives in Catawissa with her husband and three children. A native of Catawissa, Denise moved to the Philadelphia area after graduating from college. She worked in corporate human resources and education with a focus on job training. In 2013, Denise and her family returned to Catawissa to work on her family’s farm, managing and operating the Rohrbach’s Farm Market and orchards. She and her husband also started their BBQ business, Big Dan’s BBQ.
Since her return to Columbia County, Denise has been very busy operating Rohrbach’s Farm Market and orchards as a fourth-generation owner. Her business plan included diversifying the farm and adapting the business to be relevant to people’s needs. Denise saw a need for kids’ activities that provide affordable outside recreation and education. She filled this void by using the farm as a platform for agri-education and agri-tourism to increase agriculture awareness through education activities, a summer learning series, and new last year, an Ag Camp.
Education is a natural fit and priority for Denise. She is passionate about sharing the importance and exciting opportunities in agriculture. She is eager to educate through partnerships that have evolved the farm’s education experience to what it is today. The children’s summer learning series that started with 10 kids attending now sees 30 or more kids in attendance every week. Denise has taken her agri-education programs on the road to school visits, the Bloomsburg Children’s Museum, and Girl Scouts. Her education outreach has also expanded to adults, presenting at meetings, serving as a panel speaker on agriculture at conferences, and hosting workshops at the farm market, such as their upcoming rain barrel workshop partnered with the Conservation District.
In addition to raising a family and operating Rohrbach’s Farm Market, Denise volunteers on the Columbia County Ag Awareness Event planning team and a FFA Career Ag Advisory Committee. With all of this, Denise also found time to write a children’s book. Penelope Pumpkin was published in 2021 and her second book about growing strawberries will be released this spring. Her books explain the importance of agriculture and life on their family farm.
On behalf of the Columbia County Conservation District, I am honored to present Denise Bosworth with the District’s 2023 Environmental Education Achievement Award. Thank you for your dedication and commitment to the Columbia County community in the field of environmental education. We look forward to a continued partnership with you and Rohrbach’s Farm Market to instill important values that support agriculture, conservation, and protect natural resources.
Congratulations!
MOnday, April 24, 2023
