1218.1965.fid

Farmer in the Dell Menu, pre 1998

Farmer in the Dell Menu, pre 1998 (phone area code begins with 717)
History on the back
ESBERN DAIRY FARMS and THE FARMER IN THE DELL
Esbern Dairy Farms is located on Route 660 approximately half-way between Wellsboro and Mansfield, Pa. The original farm was purchased in 1961 by Bernard and Esther Courtney from Cliff and Mary Bixby. At that time, the farm was bought stocked and equipped, and had one of the first registered herds of holsteins in Tioga County.
Before coming to the Mansfield area, Bernard and Esther worked for ten years as herdsmen for Musselman's Cloverknoll Farms in Newtown, Pa. and made twelve state records in milk production.
Bernard also showed their animals, which originally came from Carnation Farms in Washington State, managed their chicken operation, and supervised 8-10 other people.
In 1957, Bernard and Esther left Newtown and came to work at the Ronald West farm as herdsmen four years before buying the Bixby farm, about 1964, The Courtneys added a pipeline milking system, a barn cleaner, and a new silo. In the years that followed, other improvements such as new machinery sheds,more silos, a large addition to the barn, much new equipment and another new pipeline and bulk tank system were added.
In 1965, the Courtneys purchased Morris Farms Dairy and remodeled it into the present-day "Farmer In The Dell" Jug Milk Plant, Dairy Store, and Restaurant. In this unique operation, milk goes directly from the cow to the customer, all under one roof.
Today, the Esbern Dairy Farms and Farmer In The Dell combination, houses approximately 500 registered holsteins whose quality bloodlines routinely stand out in milk production and championship competition. In addition to the dairy operation, this combo annually produces 50 acres of oats, 250 acres of corn, and 40-50,000 bales of hay, and employs approximately thirty people making it one of the largest agri-businesses in Tioga County.

1960s