Adopt An Acre Inc. Remembers Ed Hartman

The Board of Directors wishes to thank all who have sent contributions in Ed Hartman’s memory.  The donations will be used by Adopt An Acre Inc. to further our farmland preservation efforts through education and the purchase of conservation easements.  Ed’s dedication to the farm community and to saving farmland was evident by his life’s actions.  He was a member of the Berks County Farm Bureau from 1982 until 2006 and served as president from 1987 to 1998.  Ed was appointed by the Berks County Commissioners to serve on the Agricultural Land Preservation Board in 1995 and remained on the board until his death on August 29, 2007.

Ed was a beef, dairy, grain and swine farmer in Amity, Bern, Lower Heidelberg, Muhlenberg, Oley, Ontelaunee, Penn and Spring townships.  He promoted modern farming practices and farmland preservation throughout his career. He took special pleasure in raising beef. He fed feeder cattle until 1995, and had an interest in cattle until his death. He was a partner, with his brother, John W. Hartman, in Hartman Brothers for many years, and also was a shareholder for many years in Scattered Acres Inc.

Born in Muhlenberg Township, he was a son of the late Edward R. and Annie L. (Gruber) Hartman.  He was predeceased by his wife, Josephine W. (Bond) Hartman, on Aug. 4, 2005. They were married 50 years.

He is survived by five sons: Edward B., husband of Diane N. (Rowles), Spring Township; David F., husband of Beth L. (Lewis), Penn Township; Christopher J., husband of Rebecca M. (Frobom), Bern Township; Paul G., husband of Yvonne E. (Yerger), Oley Township; and Timothy J., husband of Diana (Lloyd), Fairfax, Va.  There also are 10 grandchildren.  He was predeceased by his brother, John W. Hartman.