History

Delaware Farm Bureau- Historic Timeline

1918- Delaware Farm Bureau is established.

1926- Delaware Farm Bureau dissolves.

1944- Delaware Farm Bureau is re-established permanently; Delaware is the 44th state to have an active Farm Bureau.
The first official meeting is held on April 28th.

1945- Associated Women’s Committee is formed.
The office is located in the Parke Building, South State Street, Dover.

1946- DFB is incorporated on August 16th.

1949- The state office is moved to Wilmington.

1950- The state office moves back to South State Street.

1953- DFB Service Company is established and was incorporated on August 27th.
Blue Cross Surgical coverage is offered to members.

1954- The state office moves to 11 North Street.
Rural Youth Committee is established and has a food booth at the State Fair.
First edition of the Delaware Farm News was published.
First statewide picnic was held.

1955- The state office moves to 4 The Green.
First DFB food booth at the Kent-Sussex Fair: sold milk, shakes, sandwiches, ice cream.

1957- Began providing accident insurance for state directors.

1958- DFB moves to its own building at South DuPont Highway on May 29th. The open house and ribbon cutting ceremony took place on September 20th.

1959- First trip to DC, via a rented bus, to discuss agricultural issues with legislators on March 18th.
DFB makes membership quota for the first time.

1963- Mortgage burning celebration for the South DuPont Highway building- November 10th.

1964- Split annual meeting and annual banquet into two days.

1966- Women’s Committee started raising money to support a scholarship fund.
The DFB Marketing Co-op is created.

1968- Delaware Farm News stops publication. The quarterly magazine is replaced with a monthly newsletter, Delaware Farm Bureau News.

1971- Purchased the “Troop 3” property at 233 South DuPont Highway, Camden.

1975- Moved into new state headquarters at 233 South DuPont Highway.
Mortgage burning celebration held at new location on August 3rd.

1978- To purchase Farm Family Insurance, a person must be a member of DFB.

1981- DFB membership hits 2,000.

1984- Building expansions made to accommodate the growing Farm Family Insurance Company.

1985- Food booth operations at the State Fair are given to the Women’s Committee.

1989- DFB Trust, Inc. was established so donations made to DFB could be tax deductible.

1991- Delaware Ag in the Classroom program is started.

1992- Delaware and New Jersey Farm Bureaus join forces to publish the Farm Bureau Focus newsletter—it was only in publication for a year.

1994- Farm Bureau Update begins circulation.
DFB Board approved giving State Queen a $500 scholarship if attending college, or $100 cash, if not attending college.
The fair booth is remodeled and expanded to include more seating.
50th Anniversary of DFB is celebrated.

1995- DFB purchases 3.4 acres and begins construction on the office in its current location.

2003- Farm Bureau switches from Farm Family to Nationwide Insurance.

2004- DFB’s 60th Anniversary is celebrated at Felton Fire Hall.

2005- DFB moved into its current office behind the old office.

2009- Delaware Farm Bureau goes high-tech by creating a Facebook Profile.
State President Ed Jestice appointed to the Northeast Region Board of Directors and the AFBF Resolutions Sub-Committee

Delaware Farm Bureau Presidents

George Simpson
1945-1947
1953-1954

Floyd Short
1948-1952

James H. Baxter, Jr.
1954-1962

Roland Garrison
1962-1966

O. Joseph Penuel
1966-1977

William L. David
1977

John F. Walton
1977-1982

John F. Tarburton
1982-1990

Joseph E. Calhoun
1990-1998

Robert L. Baker
1998-2006

L. Edward Jestice, Jr.
2006-Present