The history of Rising Sun Farms dates back to 1772 when Jacob Dech, who came from Europe, settled in Nazareth, PA. He named the property Rising Sun Farms, and for the next 200 years and 10 generations the farm has been the setting for many stories to unfold.
Llewellyn Dech, 1900’s 
Laura Dech, 1900’s 
Elmer and Irene Dech, 1920’s 
George and Annabelle Dech, 1947 
Carol and Don Keller, 1975
From raising livestock to loving pets, animals have played a major role in the story of the farm. Colonel Cocoa (pictured below) was a beautiful and strong Percheron horse of my late great-great-grandfather, Llewellyn Dech. He pulled the plows for tilling the land and led wagons for transportation into the nearby towns. Carol Dech, my mother, is pictured below with her father, George and newborn pony Prince. Carol grew up on the farm and loved caring for the animals and helping to wash and weigh the chicken’s eggs.
Along with the animals, farming was a necessity. It provided feed for the animals along with a major source of income. Wheat, corn, potatoes, and cabbage were just a few of the crops grown at Rising Sun Farms. Dairy cows provided milk, pigs were butchered for meat, and there were hundreds of chickens to provide eggs and poultry.
