Approximately 100 people helped the Gravatt family celebrate 100 years of farming at their Route 524 location on Oct. 19.
by Jane Meggitt, Special Writer
UPPER FREEHOLD — Approximately 100 people helped the Gravatt family celebrate 100 years of farming at their Route 524 location on Oct. 19.
Six generations of Gravatts have operated the family farm since its inception a century ago, starting with H. Marvin Gravatt, who bought the property in 1913, moving his family from Marlboro.
His son Vernon took over from him, giving way to Carlton Gravatt, now 91, who was the next in line.
Carlton’s son, Roger, runs the farm today along with his son Randy and grandson Tyler.
Roger’s son-in-law, Ron Tilghman, is also involved in the business along with his children Tristan, Blaine, Cail and Daltan Tilghman, who work on the farm during the summer and on weekends.
Those honoring the Gravatts at the ceremony last Saturday included state Sen. Samuel D. Thompson, Assemblyman Robert D. Clifton and Upper Freehold Mayor Stan Moslowksi Jr.
Other Upper Freehold dignitaries included Deputy Mayor Steve Alexander and Committeewoman Lorisue Horsnall Mount along with former township mayors David Horsnall, Robert Abrams and Bob Freiberger.
Mayor Moslowski, who noted that he has “lived down the road for the past 50 years,” formally proclaimed the day as “100 Years of Gravatt Family Farm in Upper Freehold Township Day.”
He also pointed out that the township has close to 10,000 acres in some form of preservation, including the Gravatt property.
”We’re proud to have them in the community. Farmers are what it’s about in Upper Freehold,” he said.
Carlton, who was born in the farmhouse currently occupied by Roger and Linda Gravatt, said that his grandfather ran a dairy at the site, a business that continued until 22 years ago when the family sold off its herd of 125 holstein cattle.
Currently, the farm produces hay, straw, soybeans and corn, while the Gravatt family also runs Bent Creek Game Farm for pheasant hunting.
At approximately the same time they sold off the cattle, the family put 218 acres into the farmland preservation program, said Carlton.
He remembered growing up in Upper Freehold and Allentown in the 1920s and ‘30s, a time when “you knew everyone in town.”
He said his family plowed with horses until getting their first tractor when he was about 10 years of age. The area’s population was about 800 then, and it was “strictly farming,” he said.
While times were hard during the Great Depression, farmers made out better than others, because they had milk, chickens, livestock and large gardens, he said
Carlton and his wife, Barbara, moved to an adult retirement community in Columbus, but he still commuted to the farm for about 10 years.
However, in the last few years, the farm equipment has become too large and technically sophisticated for him to operate, he said.

