charles altemus

           Charles Altemus began farming when he was 16 years old, working on local farms near his home.  Altemus started on his own in 1947 when he rented 10 acres of land and planted cabbage.  In 1954, he purchased his first 35 acres.  He started with a homemade tractor made from a Model A Ford, an old dodge truck, and a single horse plow.  Today, Altemus is the owner/operator of Altemus Farms and Pikes Peak Nurseries.  His farming operation is one of the largest in the region, farming land in Indiana, Cambria, and Westmoreland counties.  Presently he grows cabbage, corn, wheat and soybeans. He previously grew potatoes for 50 years that were sold to supermarkets, and then later to the potato chip company, Snyders of Berlin.

           Charles and his wife Mildred purchased Pikes Peak Nurseries in 1975. The nursery offers a wholesale business for seedlings and transplants throughout the United States and maintains a retail tree and shrubbery center at the nursery. 

           ​Charles Altemus was the first recipient of the Hugh E. Cumming Cooperative award for his significant contributions to the agriculture industry.  He served as a commodity committee member for PRO-FAC in Rochester, New York. He also served on the Indiana County Agriculture Stabilization and Conservation committee, was a member of the board of directors of the Indiana Healthcare Corporation, and an advisory board member of S&T bank.
Charles says that his success is due to the help and support of his wife, Mildred; his brother, Fred (Judy) sons, Jeffrey (Denise) and Eric (Carol); son-in-law, Gerald Pribicko (Beverly); and grandsons, Aaron Pribicko (deceased), Jacob Altemus (Alissa), Andrew Pribicko (Jessica), and Adam Altemus, who all work in the business.  Four granddaughters and four great grandchildren complete the family.