Delaware County farmer Jim Sherman has been elected as this year’s Oldtime Farming Festival marshal in Centerburg.
Sherman’s family members have been born and raised in the community of Centerburg since 1892. The fifth-generation farming family began with his great-great-grandfather, originally from New York. The original homestead is on Moody Road but his family residence is on Peerless Road in Delaware County.
The farming tradition continues on with his two sons, Bob and Tom (sixth generation). Tom is married and has a son, Daniel.
The Shermans farm 800 acres of soybeans and corn. This year Sherman and his sister, Susan, registered the farm as a Century Farm, one that has been farmed by the same family for at least 100 years.
Sherman graduated from Centerburg High School and attended Ohio State University 3½ years. Besides farming, he worked for the U.S. Postal Service for 32 years, retiring on Feb. 1, 2014.
He also found time to serve on the Delaware County Soil and Water Conservation District board for the past 29 years and the zoning board of Porter Township for more than 22 years.
Sherman displays 15-25 farming tractors and implements each year at the Oldtime Farming Festival, and puts tractors in the annual parade. One year he also served as a parade judge.
Sherman has been married to Denise (Mirise) for more than 42 years. The family attends the Centerburg United Methodist Church.
The Sherman family will be riding on the Oldtime Farming Festival float in the USA Days parade on Saturday, June 25, at 11 a.m.
