By:Brian Shappell
Arthur Danser was destined to be a farmer — and he would not have had it any other way.
Mr. Danser, of 147 Plainsboro Road, was named the 2000 Middlesex County Farmer of the Year by the Middlesex County Board of Agriculture. He will be presented with the award, created in 1992 by the trustees of the county fair, on August 7.
“Naturally, it is an honor to get it,” Mr. Danser said. “I was surprised to hear I had gotten it. I didn’t even know I was a candidate.”
Mr. Danser, father of Mayor Alan Danser, was born in his Plainsboro Road home on July 30, 1929. Mr. Danser lived in the house with his family until 1940, when they moved across town, but returned in 1954.
According to Mr. Danser, he had always wanted to be a farmer so he could follow in his father’s footsteps.
“As long as I could remember I told people ‘I want to be a farmer just like my dad,’ ” Mr. Danser said. “Farming has its own rewards. It is fun and I still enjoy it.”
The long time farmer began his career in 1948 after a two-year stint at Rutgers University. Though he wanted to finish college, he had to return home because his father was having health problems.
“It would have been nice to stay, but, under the circumstances, I don’t have any regrets,” Mr. Danser said.
He did still had a chance to attend the Class of 1950 reunion held recently at the school.
Mr. Danser has kept busy in Cranbury with several pursuits separate from farming. He has served for several township organizations including the Board of Education, Township Committee and Planning Board. He also served on larger organizations like the State Potato Association and chartered the White Potato Industry Council up until he switched from farming potatoes as a main product to farming corn.
Mr. Danser said he thinks his community involvement, along with his ability to be a successful farmer are the reasons he received the award.
“Maybe they were looking outside of the farm for community involvement,” Mr. Danser said. “I’ve been farming for a long time and been able to keep doing it, even though there were some lean years.”
The “lean” times of farming are not in the distant past. Last year, an area drought hit area hurt farmers substantially, according to Mr. Danser.
“Last year was as close to a disaster as you could get,” Mr. Danser said. “In places that could not be irrigated, there was nothing.”
One of the factors Mr. Danser credits for easing the burdens of today’s farmers is farmland preservation. He said the program already has been a big help for many.
“If the farmer bug bites somebody, it makes that more possible for them to do it,” said Mr. Danser. “It is nice to know that regardless of the crop or the man years from now, the land will be there to use.”
The bug certainly bit Mr. Danser and never let go.
Aside from farming, Mr. Danser will have a lot of celebrating to do in the coming weeks and months. He will be heading to County Fair to receive his award, celebrating his 71st birthday and, in February, will celebrate his 50th Wedding Anniversary.
