Though there are some industries over-represented in companies that survive for over 100 years, every category is represented. The firms surviving to celebrate their 195th anniversary this year, however, all have something to do with agriculture, farming and food.
John Baer's Sons of Lancaster PA has just published the 195th edition of their "farmers" almanac. Before there was weather radar and predictions from meteorologists, America's farmers relied on the agricultural almanac as a source for information crucial to their operations. John Baer's 2020 edition contains the usual information: planting times, activities of the sun and moon, the fishing calendar, and weather predictions for the entire year along with details on stars, planets and eclipses. You will also find stories on historical subjects, owning a terrarium or growing pumpkins, recipes. The almanac is now published by Linda Weidman, whose newspaperman father purchased Baer's in 1948 to save it from extinction. Today it is enjoyed by farmers, gardeners and lovers of Americana. For just $8.50 you, too, can enjoy this piece of Americana. (John Baer's Sons, PO Box 328, Lancaster PA 17608)
Growing apples has been a way of life for Erie, Michigan's Keeney-Miller family since 1825. The large orchard of today was planned when one family member returned from WWII; they harvest over 4,000 bushels a year and sell a variety of apples and other fresh fruit and vegetables at their farm stand. The business is now run by 5th generation Marilyn Miller and her daughter Lynette Frost.
M.A. Patout & Son is a 6th-generation Louisiana sugar mill. Founded in 1825 by Simeon and Appoline Patout, the original sugar plantation and sugar refinery was added to over the years with the acquisition of Sterling and Raceland Raw Sugars. At two points in Patout's early history, the husband died and the wife took over running the business. One of them (Mary Ann) expanded the business and developed a railroad system and later a pipeline for more efficient transport of cane and juice for refining. Louisiana takes pride in its sugar industry and M.A. Patout & Sons takes pride in contributing to this part of the state's economy.
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