Hoffman Estates farmer lauded on 99th birthday

Harold Bergman, who last year won recognition as the oldest active farmer in Cook County, is hanging up his work boots on the occasion of his 99th birthday.

Bergman was lauded this week by the Hoffman Estates village board for his lifelong contributions to farming and the community.

"Thank you for everything you've done for our suburban area," Hoffman Estates Mayor Bill McLeod told the still strong and capable-looking Bergman.

"It was a pleasure," the longtime farmer replied.

Bergman also received official recognition of his achievements from both the Illinois Comptroller's office and the Cook County Farm Bureau.

The representative from the comptroller's office said he and his colleagues were surprised to learn there were still active farmers in Cook County. But farm bureau representatives said there are in fact about 1,100 people in the county who are either farmers or owners of farm property.

However, they added, most active of the farms concentrated to the south, and Bergman's retirement will cause the presence of farming in the Northwest suburbs to drop significantly.

The Bergman family farm, located at the northwest corner of Algonquin and Ela roads, already existed when Harold was born in the house there on June 1, 1916.

Though at one time a 200-acre dairy farm, much of it was lost in 1966 when the Cook County Forest Preserve District used eminent domain to acquire additional land.

But Bergman continued to farm the remaining 38 acres until earlier this year, raising hay for area horse farms and Arlington Park.