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After a Short Two Years Two years ago, we were privileged to attend the groundbreaking for Country View Family Farms (CVFF) - at their newest location in New Columbia, PA. Since then, we have kept everyone updated on their facilities’ progress. Now, today, we are excited to share that CVFF, a member of the Clemens Food Group, is open! CVFF held a grand celebration on September 27, 2024, with a ribbon cutting & grand opening. (Many pictures to follow this article.) Our Part in the Celebration Being this location is situated directly off of the former Reading Railroad, we brought our LVRR 2016 (painted in a Reading, Bee Line Service scheme), and we worked with Norfolk Southern to bring in their NS 1067 (a heritage unit painted to the same homage). Our crews used NS 1067 to pull passengers around CVFF’s 8,250-foot loop track in a couple pieces of our passenger equipment. We, along with few other esteemed guests, were also invited to speak in front of CVFF’s 350+ guests. Joe’s Speech The dictionary says the definition of the word Idea is “A Thought of Suggestion as to a possible course of action.” When the Railroad first learned about this project, we were given a list of all the attributes Country View was looking for in a site. Now as the Business & Development Manager of the North Shore Railroad, one of my responsibilities is to keep an inventory of all the properties along our railroads that could be used for development. As I read over the wants and needs, the Kling Farm quickly came to mind. I remember talking to Lauren Bryson of FOCUS Central PA and saying, “we have the perfect site along the Union County Industrial Railroad but it’s not listed for sale. I think Country View Family Farms should check it out and see if the owners would talk to them.” As they say, “The rest is history.” I’ve made a career of brainstorming ideas. I keep a note pad next to my bed and there have been many nights when I just can’t sleep until I write down the next idea that hits me. Some may call it a curse, but I call it a blessing. When I look at this new facility today, I see many people’s talents. I see the talent of the engineers who designed everything; I see the talents of the builders who built the buildings and tracks; I see the talents of the local officials who helped pull everything together to allow this facility to be built; and I see the culmination of many ideas. God has blessed each one of us with a talent. It’s up to us to actually use that talent for good. It's been a pleasure to work with Eric and all the folks at Country View Family Farms over the past few years in getting to this point, and North Shore Railroad looks forward to working with you for many years to come. May God Bless this plant, the good that it does for our nation’s food supply chain and for the people who work here. Now let's all bring home the bacon. Thank you.
Todd’s Speech I’m thrilled to speak to you today about the largest project that I have been involved with in my almost 30-year railroad career - this giant Country View Family Farms feed mill we are dedicating here today. Joe Kantz mentioned history in his comments, agriculture and railroading both have long histories here in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The past is beautifully represented here in the heritage paint schemes of the two locomotives and the historic passenger train now on site, and in the Kling family farm that this massive structure now sits on. But honoring the past is one thing, looking to the future is another. Agriculture and railroading have both had their struggles over the years. But the future is here now. We are growing and intend to continue to grow, and so does Country View Family Farms. All of this involves partnerships, with many various people and companies working together. I would like to thank Norfolk Southern for their assistance and cooperation in getting things in place to handle the traffic this mill will require, and for sending their beautiful Reading Railroad Heritage Unit for today’s event. We look forward to working with NS to meet the needs of Country View Family Farms. Thanks to the entire team at Country View Family Farms. Note the word “family” in their name. We feel we at North Shore are now also part of their family, and we are thrilled to have them here. And thanks to the North Shore Railroad employees who spent a massive amount of time working on the rail line and overseeing the construction of the rail loop that you all are invited to ride around today on our passenger train. As we say on the railroad - Welcome aboard.
This week we will begin bringing in the first loads for CVFF. It is safe to say that this is only the beginning of what will be a great partnership! Will your company be our next exciting, new customer grand opening? Call us today, and find out!
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