A Brief History of Maple Farms

A farming dynasty was born!

   In 1930, Clifford Maple and his wife Edna purchased a 160 acre tract of land in Taylor Township of Howard County.  This was the beginning of what is now known as Maple Farms, Inc., a 3rd generation farm transitioning to a 4th generation farm.  Although that same farmstead still serves as the hub of the operation, this family business produces a variety of different crops. 

  

   Approximately half of the land the Maple's farm is owned by family members and the other half is rented.  Some of the land that is currently operated was initially rented in the early 1960’s.  Many of the current landlords began renting to the operation over 20 years ago. Having numerous landlords, there are also numerous varieties of rental agreements. 

  

   These range anywhere from the straight cash rent agreement to the traditional 50/50 share crop arrangement.  Between these two extremes, there are several cash rent arrangements which are tied to the land’s production.  The arrangement which works best depends on the amount of risk the landowner wants to take on.  For the landowner who is willing to take all of the risk (and like wise receive all of the reward) without the burden of machinery or labor, the option of a custom agreement can also be considered.

 

Who's who at Maple Farms

   When Clifford and Edna established their farmstead, they brought with them their 4 children (Margaret, Julia, William, Charles).  The 2 sons, William (Bill) and Charles (Charlie) eventually took over management of the farm during the early 1950’s.  When Bill and Charlie first began operation of the farm, the business of the farm was handled as a simple partnership.  As the farm grew, so did their families and they saw advantages to incorporating the family farm.  In 1972 Maple Farms, Inc. was established and became the umbrella under which all of the farm production was run for more than 40 years to come.  Charlie’s son Tom continued the legacy following high school in 1974 as did Bill’s son Mark in 1976 after completion of an agronomy degree at Purdue.  Another of Bill’s sons, Scott, joined the operation in 1994 following 12 years of teaching vocational agriculture. 

 

   In 2007, Tom’s oldest son Daryl completed a degree in Ag. Economics at Purdue and in 2010 Tom’s youngest son Jason completed a degree in Ag. Systems Management (ASM).  They have both since returned to the farm as full time employees.  They mark the beginning of the fourth generation of Maple Farms.   Ryan Maple (son of Mark) has also graduated from Purdue in 2010 with a degree in Ag. Economics and is currently working for Reynolds John Deere store in Lebanon, IN but helps the farm part time.  Additionally, two more family members, Kyle (son of Mark) and Aaron (son of Scott) graduated in May 2011 from Purdue University with bachelor degrees in Agri-business and Ag Systems Management.  In addition to the family members, the farm has two full time employees, Leonard Surber, who has over forty years of farm experience and Matt Pall who is in his 3rd year of farming.