150 years of Harper farm

For 150 years, the Harper family farm has been operating 2 miles east of Humphrey.

In 1874, John Robert (JR) Harper bought the farm for $1 an acre after homesteading the land for 1 year.

Arla P. Harper (JR’s son) took over the farm in 1931. The original part of the barn built in 1901 was lost in the Oct. 2022 fire. Arla retired to Creston and son, Marvin, after returning from serving 4 year in the Navy, took over, building a dairy that became a grade A dairy and milking up to 120 Holsteins at one point. He and his wife, Luella, raised their family, daughter Cheryl and sons Mel and Steve, who all were involved in milking, haying, and numerous other farm chores. Alfalfa, corn, and pasture land made up the dryland farm.