Scott Richard Wenzel

Scott was born July 10, 1960, in Warren to the late Richard W. Wenzel and Lucille (“Elaine”) Swanson Wenzel.

Scott was a life-long and devoted community member of Lander, living all his life in the house his grandfather, Joe Swanson bought in 1919 and graduating from Eisenhower High School in 1978.

Scott spent his entire career in agriculture, becoming Warren County’s most accomplished grower of strawberries, as well as a producer of many other fine crops, including sweet corn and potatoes, a wide-range of other excellent farm products, and superior beef cattle and hogs. Scott made his start with his father, farming small plots of land on Valentine Run, Jackson Run and on Dutch Hill. In 1982, he and his parents established “Wenzel’s Hatch Patch” in North Warren, ever expanding until it became Warren County’s largest and finest farm market, including a second location – “The Sugar Patch” in Sugar Grove. In 2014, Scott went into semi-retirement, when he sold the Hatch Patch to the Lindell family.

Following the sale of the Hatch Patch, owing to Scott’s zeal for farming and his deep relationships with the Amish community, Scott soon re-established a smaller farm market on his family’s original 1863 farm on Dutch Hill Road, known as “Old Wenzel Farm” that Scott refurbished into the truest of gems, including a spectacular barn-raising, done in one day in the summer of 2015, performed by over 100 Amish men, followed by an equally stunning luncheon served by the kindest Amish women.

Scott was a member of the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau for several decades, serving on many committees as an advocate for the farm community both locally and at the state level. He also served on the board of directors of Penn State Cooperative Extension and the Warren County Conservation District. Scott was instrumental in the creation of Warren County’s agricultural conservation easement program that is designed to protect the county’s best farmland from being lost forever.

Scott served as a Farmington Township Supervisor since 2010 and also served for many years on the Warren County Republican Committee. Over the last two decades Scott was very influential in helping many candidates enter public service by encouraging them to run for office and then providing support and advice for their campaigns including our current state representative, current and former county commissioners, school board members, township supervisors, and several other local office holders.

Most of all, Scott Wenzel will be remembered as a deeply loyal friend, a man of high and unwavering standards uncommon in this day, and a person who balanced his intelligence with humor and generosity in a way that made others around him feel welcome to become part of his exceptional world.

Scott is survived by his cousin, Charles “Chip” Rapp of Jamestown; cousin, Brian Rapp and his wife, Claire Hanley of Seattle; cousin, Barbara Swanson Crane and her husband, Jeff of Butler; cousin Craig Swanson of Germantown, Ohio; cousin, Susan Ponsoll Nelson and her husband, Don of Warren; cousin, Michael Ponsoll of Warren; and several close friends.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his uncle, Jim Wenzel of Warren; aunt, Donna Wenzel Ponsoll of Warren; and cousin Craig’s wife, Konnie.

A memorial service will be held at the Lander United Methodist Church on May 11, at 11:00 a.m. with the Rev. Wade Barto officiating. Those who attend are encouraged to partake in the luncheon that will follow.

Due to Scott’s consistent, articulate and effective advocacy for agriculture as a worthwhile vocation, it is suggested that memorial contributions be made to the Warren County Conservation District, 4000 Conewango Avenue, Warren, PA 16365. Contributions will be used to fund agricultural education programs in public schools, one of Scott’s most passionate causes.