Submitted

Charles and Janice Hoffman’s farm is located along the Kansas-Nebraska state line, in northern Brown County. The farm encompasses approximately 306 acres consisting of cropland, pasture, and timber. The property has been in family ownership since it was homesteaded in the 1850s by Charles Hoffman’s third-great-grandfather, John Stumbo.

Through successive generations, the land was divided and later consolidated into its current acreage. Ownership passed into the Hoffman family in the 1950s through Charles’s grandmother, Nellie Messler Hoffman, and his great-aunt, Alice Stumbo Prater. Since that time, the Hoffmans have maintained continuous ownership and oversight of the property.

As absentee landowners, Charles and Janice Hoffman have partnered with Farmers National Company (FNC) since the late 1960s to manage farm operations. Over the years, multiple tenants have farmed the land under FNC management, with a consistent emphasis on sound agricultural practices and long-term soil and water conservation. Fred Olsen, the current FNC manager, has overseen the Hoffman Farm for more than 14 years, providing continuity in management and conservation planning.

The Hoffmans believe that maintaining the land in good condition is a responsibility to future generations. Numerous conservation practices have been implemented to protect soil resources and improve water management, including terraces, grassed waterways, drainage improvements, and erosion control measures. Additionally, the Pony Creek corridor serves as important wildlife habitat, contributing to environmental stability across the farm.

In 2019, a portion of the Hoffman Farm was enrolled in an Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) contract with guidance from Farmers National Company. This project included the installation of water and sediment control basins, terracing with tile outlets, and a grade stabilization structure. These conservation efforts demonstrate the Hoffmans’ commitment to responsible land stewardship and the long-term sustainability of their agricultural resources.