Newton Twp. farmer will receive distinguished citizen award

Keith Eckel couldn’t imagine a better purpose for his grandfather’s farm in Newton Twp. than as the new home of Marley’s Mission, a nonprofit that provides free equine therapy to children who have experienced trauma.

Eckel sold 32 acres of farmland to Marley Mission for $240,000 in 2012 — about $80,000 less than the asking price.

“I had four aunts who lived there their entire lives and one, Ada, was crippled from the age of 3 with polio,” Eckel said. “They loved that land and they also loved the children. Although none of them were married, they really spoiled all of their nieces and nephews. The farm was very important to them and they cultivated it themselves. There will be a day when I leave, but Marley’s mission will last much longer… I hope forever.”

Eckel said Equines for Freedom’s work at the farm to help veterans dealing with symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder makes the agreement even more meaningful since his father, Fred, served in World War II.

Eckel, 77, will be recognized May 23 by The Pennsylvania Society with its Distinguished Citizen of the Commonwealth award during its 126th annual meeting at the Country Club of Scranton in South Abington Twp.

The Newton Twp. the man was chosen because of his contributions to the state’s economic and agricultural progress, as well as his philanthropy.

Eckel served as a member of the Penn State University Board of Trustees for 15 years, from 2001 to 2016.

“Keith’s work in preserving farmland alone would be worthy of recognition,” said Elizabeth Preate Havey, president of the Pennsylvania Society. “But Keith has done so much more, from guiding and improving educational opportunities for Pennsylvanians, to his leadership at Penn State, to supporting healing treatment for children.”

In addition to his donation to the Marley Mission, Eckel also donated about 18 acres of land to Countryside Community Church in 2009 for the construction of a new house of worship.

“I was part of the leadership group that brought together four small United Methodist churches into Countryside Community Church,” he said. “It has a great view of Bald Mountain and the Milwaukee Valley.”

Eckel, owner of Fred W. Eckel Sons and president of Eckel Farms Inc., served as president of the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau for 15 years, from 1981 to 1996, and was a member of its board about five years earlier.

Farm life has been a constant for Eckel.

“My dad and mom moved from Scranton to Newton Twp. 75 years ago, last April,” he said. “Dad started with 44 acres and was an extremely hard worker. I think he started with five cows and we expanded to 88 dairy cows during the time he led our organization.”

Eckel has witnessed significant growth in the farming operation over the years.

“I’m blessed with three great employees and today we grow about 600 acres of corn, 200 acres of soybeans, 25 acres of sweet corn, 14 acres of wheat and 12 acres of pumpkins,” he said. “We farm about 900 acres in three counties – Lackawanna, Luzerne and Wyoming. It has been my passion and my life.”

While he was honored to be selected, Eckel emphasized that many others in the industry are also worthy.

“I am extremely proud of the fact that society is recognizing a farmer,” he said. “In my opinion, this award belongs to all farming families in this state because what they did to increase productivity was a miracle. Our farming families work together every day and we have several of them in this area.”