In Somerset County; 1919, Clyde E. Horner was born into a farm family that lumbered, deep mined coal, and had a maple sugar camp to make-ends- meet. In 1928 Clyde raised his first potato crop-- as a 4-H project. In 1940 he married Dorothy Fisher; and in 1942 they joined her family farm operation which dairy farmed and raised 120 acres of potatoes. They were partners in Fisher Brothers with Dorothy’s brother David until 1955. In 1955 Clyde and Dorothy left the Fisher operation and created Long Acres Potato Farms in Stoystown, PA. Clyde & Dorothy raised potatoes and grain with their children, Donald and Doris.
In 1967; after a run-away-potato truck scare; wanting to leave the hills of Somerset County, Clyde searched for a new farm. A traveling bag salesman notified Clyde of a “Flat” farm in Northern Clarion County. The farm was purchased that winter. Son-in-law Clarence Beck left his home dairy farm and joined Clyde, Dorothy and Donald in Clarion County, The families planted crops in both Somerset and Clarion Counties for three years-- moving equipment between the two farms until the Somerset farm sold. The Clarion home farm comprised of 409 acres. In 1968 the current potato storage was built. In 1975 corn was added to the potato, rye, oats, and barley mix. In 1981 the grain leg was added, and for many subsequent years grain bins and building additions were added as feasible. In 1982 Clarence Beck became the managing partner. In 1998, Clarence and Doris's son, Bryan married Heidi Harpster from Spruce Creek, PA. Heidi and Bryan lived in Chicago; Bryan worked for Continental Grain Company as a Specialty Grain Trader, and Heidi worked for CH Robinson as a Citrus Trader. Both are Penn State University graduates in Agricultural Business. In 1999 after a family transition, a farm succession plan was put in place. Bryan and Heidi moved back from Chicago purchasing, Don, Clyde and Dorothy’s interest in the business. The partnership buyout was completed January 1st of 2011.
Today; Long Acres Farms is comprised of three entities: Long Acres Potato Farms, Long Acres, Inc. and Long Acres Logistics.
Long Acres Potato Farms is the operating entity. It owns equipment, and buildings and operates 3600+ acres of land. Long Acres Potato Farms raises corn, soybeans, oats, hay and timber resources. LAPF also packages consumer potatoes for retail markets and private-labels for some of the leading grocery chains.
Long Acres, Inc. is a land management company and also operates a Pioneer Brand Seed sales agency in ten Northwest Pennsylvania counties. All new land purchases are owned by Long Acres, Inc. and farmland is leased to Long Acres Potato Farms; timber resources are managed for long term growth and sustainability.
The two entities operate Long Acres Agronomic Solutions. Long Acres Agronomic Solutions specializes in crop production consulting, agronomic solutions, fertilizer, grain and cover crop seed, agri-chemicals and equipment. Some of the seed and agronomic companies that Long Acres represent are: AgroLiquid Fertilizer, Pioneer, King’s Agri-Seed, Enduraplas, PivotBio, Spraytec, Kverneland, Cummings and Bricker, and H&S Equipment.
Long Acres Logistics was formed to provide for-hire trucking and transportation services. It utilizes, reefers, flat, step deck, dump and hopper bottom trailers.
The success of Long Acres Farms is the Grace of God, the incredible dedication of it’s full-time employees and their hardworking attitude and our personal relationships with many valued customers and suppliers.
On April 18th, 2014 Clyde E. Horner the Founder of Long Acres Potato Farms passed away at the age of 94. He is missed greatly but his life’s passion lives on in the hearts of everyone he touched. “Anything Worth Doing; is worth Doing Well!”