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The four Gilliland
brothers work on
the harvest on the
R.T. Gilliland Farm in
1919. The farm was
established in 1914
and recently given
the Century Farm
designation.
Celebrating (more than)
a century of farming
By JOHN TILLMAN
EO Media Group
P
ILOT ROCK — A Pilot Rock area
farm in 2021 earned recognition as
a Century Ranch.
Robert T. and Willie Gilliland
founded R.T. Gilliland Farm in
1914 on Stewart Creek, 1.75 miles
north of Pilot Rock.
Robert Gilliland’s grandson-in-law,
Kelly and Brenda Bensel stand in
front of a modernized farmhouse on
the R.T. Gilliland Farm, which was
established in 1914 and recently
designated a Century Farm.
Kathy Aney/East Oregonian
Donald H. Bensel, 89, now of Pendleton,
formerly Pilot Rock, preserved all deeds
going back to the foundation making for a
successful Century Ranch application.
In 1914, Robert T. — R.T. — purchased
160 acres homesteaded by the Smith family.
He added another 160 acres from Ephrus
Shafer in 1919, as well as another 160 acres
in 1920 from Frank Curl. Stewart Creek is a
right bank tributary of Birch Creek, down-
stream from Pilot Rock.