History of Jefferson County Agriculture |
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| EVENTS Saturday Oct. 4 Sunday Oct. 5 BARNS |
 Barn raising near Shepherdstown, ca. 1910
The Colonial Period The Jefferson County area has always been known for its fertile farmland. It was the land, and the ample supply of water, that first drew settlers to this area. The soil and climate supported crops that could be grown further north into Pennsylvania as well as those that could be cultivated in southern Virginia. German, Scots-Irish, and English settlers arriving from the north and east in the early 18th century brought their own crop preferences and farming techniques. Settlers from the Tidewater region often carried their plantation culture and crops with them. These factors, combined with the preferences and experience of the new settlers, made for varied agriculture and farming techniques in the Jefferson County area. Because of the size of the plantations and the crops they grew, owners of these operations tended to use more slaves than did their neighbors who emigrated from the north and east. Thus the characteristics of the farming population varied with the type of agriculture being practiced. It was not unusual in this area to find a plantation worked by an overseer and a score of slaves located next door to a farm worked directly by the owner and his family, perhaps augmented by an indentured servant and a slave or two rented from a neighbor. Transportation routes in the area were poor before the American Revolution, preventing farmers from moving large quantities of produce to market. Many farmers practiced subsistence agriculture during this period, growing enough to support their family and to trade for the necessities they couldn't produce. This need for improved transportation allied residents of our area with those further west, who urged that the government improve river navigation and build new roads so that they could sell their goods. The American Revolution
By the American Revolution, much of what would be Jefferson County had been settled, with many of the German, Scots-Irish, and English settlers located in the northern and eastern portions of the county and the Tidewater emigrants in the southern and western areas. Assessing the state of American agriculture just before the Revolution, the anonymous author of American Husbandry noted that the following exportable products could be found in our area: wheat, barley, oats, maize, buckwheat, tobacco, beans, peas, deer and other skins, flax-seed, pickled pork, beef, hams, bacon, and hemp. He also observed that cultivation methods were often wasteful and inefficient, preventing the residents from realizing the full potential of their land. Tobacco, the king of all crops in Virginia, was grown in the Jefferson County area, though the quantity was much smaller than that found on plantations further south. Nevertheless, this crop was such a vital part of the economy that it was used as legal tender here and throughout Virginia and its neighboring colonies. A tobacco warehouse was established at Shepherdstown in 1789. Wheat, grown in the Jefferson County area by the earliest farmers, grew steadily in importance throughout the Colonial period. By the time Jefferson had become a county in 1801, wheat had become our most important crop. Charles Varle, describing Jefferson County's resources in 1810, noted that it included at least 31 grist and merchant mills. Located on the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers as well as on Opecquon Creek and other streams, these mills were an integral part of the agricultural economy. As the farm community grew, so did its social and economic importance. Organizations were formed to help farmers get the resources they needed to market their produce at a profit. The Jefferson Company of Farmers, Mechanics, and Merchants was founded in 1814, followed by the Valley Agricultural Society (1850), and the Jefferson County Agricultural Society (1856). These organizations sponsored agricultural exhibitions, which grew in size and scope to become major social events. The Morgan's Grove Fair, begun in 1884 was a successor to these efforts. Wheat continued to be Jefferson County's biggest crop until the Civil War. The 1840 census of Virginia showed that Jefferson County produced more wheat, cattle, sheep, and swine than Berkeley and Morgan Counties combined. Wheat production, estimated at 517,000 bushels, was more than double that for Berkeley. Jefferson lagged behind Berkeley in the production of Indian corn, oats, and potatoes. By this time, tobacco grown in the area was negligible. By 1850, agriculture still occupied the top spot in Jefferson County's economy. Of the 5,453 white males enumerated in the county's 1850 census, 1008 listed their occupation as "farmer." Many of the county's 4,300 slaves were also engaged in agricultural activities. The Civil War
The Civil War devastated the agricultural economy of Jefferson County. Sheridan, in his sweep through the Shenandoah Valley reported to Grant on October 7, 1864, "I have destroyed over 2,000 barns filled with wheat, hay and farming implements; over seventy mills filled with flour and wheat; have driven in front of the army over 4,000 head of stock, and have killed and issued to the troops not less than 3,000 sheep." Although much of this destruction occurred further south, Jefferson County received its share. An English reporter visiting the county in 1865 noted that barely a fence or a tree was left on the road from Harpers Ferry to Charles Town. Stone foundations marked the sites of many former barns, and few livestock could be seen. Despite the blow to Jefferson County's agricultural economy, the fertile, well-watered land that had drawn the first settlers was still here. The county's agricultural base was rebuilt, this time without the help of large numbers of black laborers. Having worked the land here for several generations, many African Americans tried their hand at other endeavors. During the first part of the 19th century, farmers had welcomed the railroads as a means for getting their produce to market. However, by the 1870's the situation had changed drastically, with the railroads charging high transportation rates for farm products. The Patrons of Husbandry (Grange) was formed during this period to combat the influence of the railroads and big industry. The first lodge of the West Virginia Grange was organized in June 1873 at Summit Point. During the next decade, Jefferson County residents were influential members of this organization. The first annual session of the State Grange of West Virginia met at Charles Town on January 22-23 of the following year. Robert W. Baylor of Jefferson served as the second State
Grangemaster. Wheat, corn, hay, and livestock continued to be major agricultural products in the county during the decade after the Civil War, although local farmers were now competing with wheat growers further west. By the 1880's, the orchard industry had started to take root. A detailed orchard survey made in 1914 noted that Jefferson County had 40 acres of orchards in 1876. By 1913, the number had grown to 4,385 acres, including 195,524 apple trees. The county's commercial dairy industry got its start in the 1930's. World War I
During World War I, when were few men available to do the farming, Jefferson County hosted groups of "farmeretts." John Yates McDonald brought women who were getting degrees in agriculture from the University of Wisconsin to Media farm in the summer of 1917 to learn farming. County farmers also used other tactics to recruit able-bodied workers. German prisoners of war had been pressed into service on local farms during the American Revolution. The practice was re-instituted during World War II, when German prisoners helped work the Tabb farm near Leetown. During the Second World War, horse farming gave way to tractors, responding to the need for increased production and scarcity of farm labor. Jefferson County's long-standing interest in agricultural exhibitions and competitions was also demonstrated by the establishment of the Charles Town Horse and Colt Show in 1913. The same year it was reorganized into the Charles Town Horse Show Association, which sponsored both exhibitions and horse races for the next 50 years. The Charles Town Races occupies the original site of the Association, which continued to hold several race days each year from the racetrack's opening in 1933 until 1963. Recent Events
Sustained by this agricultural diversity, Jefferson County's agricultural economy continued to grow and thrive into the 1980's. Although the amount of farmland had declined since World War II, the number of farms and land in farms remained fairly constant from 1969 to 1982. During this period, dairy products were the leading source of farm income, followed by fruits (primarily apples) and grains (mostly corn). At the time, most of the farms were family operated and most farmers (88%) had lived on their farms for at least 5 years. Despite this promising picture, warning signs of a rocky future had begun to emerge. An increasing number of farmers listed their principal occupation as non-farming (33.8 % in 1974 versus 45.5% in 1982). The age of farm operators was also increasing. These factors suggested that some farms were no longer economically viable and that they might be vulnerable to conversion to non-farm use. The most recent studies (2000) of Jefferson County agriculture reveal important changes in farming trends and support a cautious optimism for the future of farming. However, several critical issues still need to be addressed. More than 47,000 acres (35.7%) of good agricultural land still exist, much of this in the central portion of the county. Fifty-four per cent of the land is in agriculture, and the number of farms has increased slightly during the past five years, the largest increase being in the number of farms under 50 acres. The amount of harvested cropland has decreased from 68% in 1954 to 54% in 1997. Cropland used for pasture increased during the same period, from 15% to 18%. By 1997, corn production had dropped to less than half that grown in 1982, but soybean and wheat production have increased. Land used for truck crops is the highest it has been since 1982. The number of cattle and calves in the county has increased since 1987, while all other livestock numbers have declined. At the same time, the number of dairy or beef cattle and swine on individual farms has risen. Between 1982 and 1997, the value of agricultural products sold in Jefferson County has averaged $19 million per year, although the profit margin has continued to shrink during this period. During the past 35 years, the net return on investment per farm has exceeded 5% only once in the last 35 years and has been above 1% only three times during the same period. The amount of land in orchards has continued to decline, now totaling less than 1,500 acres. Today
The most recent (1997) agricultural statistics show a slight increase in the number of farmers listing their principal occupation as non-farming (46.8%), although this figure has declined from 1992 and has held steady for the past 5 years. The number of persons listing their principal occupation as farming has also leveled off during the same period. The age of farm operators has continued to increase (57.1 years in 1997), although the number in the age 65 or older category has declined. Agriculture has managed to survive in the Jefferson County area for more than 270 years. Our county's oldest industry, farming has held on tenaciously while other industries have come and gone. As Jefferson County enters its third century, the biggest threat to local agriculture is the loss of good farmland. At present, farmers contend there is enough cropland available to sustain a healthy agricultural economy. Located in the central part of the county, much of this prime agricultural land is also a target for residential development. Maintaining a critical mass of farmland may require us to drastically limit the amount of new development in the central part of the county, an area where the infrastructure for growth continues to spread. The area's first settlers came here to farm in the 1730's, and today Jefferson County's rural atmosphere is frequently cited as being one of the main attractions for new settlers. Ironically, this attraction could also lead to the destruction of a viable agricultural economy. Do Jefferson County residents have the interest and resolve needed to make the major rezoning changes required to maintain local agriculture?
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