Wayne Harpster, owner of Harpster Farms in Huntingdon County, developed a friendship with the late President Jimmy Carter through their love of fly fishing. Harpster met Cater in 1978 at a Spruce Creek Rod and Gun Club member meet up.

“I didn't know he was coming.”

The former president arrived in his helicopter and landed on Harpster’s field. He offered to cut his fence so the president and first lady Rosalynn could get to the stream. However, the president did not allow him to do that.

“I had barbed wire that separated the field that turned to the area where he was going to go fishing because wheat pasture cattle at that time. And I don't want them to cut their boots. So, I wanted to cut the barbed wire so they wouldn't cut our fishing boats. And they wouldn't let me do that. And they just crawled over the wall’.”

When the day ended, Wayne was not sure that he’d see the president again, however his friendship lasted well over 40 years.

“I didn't know if I'd ever see him again. But 12. For the next year. The time came again. And our friendship began.”

Over the years, Harpster and Cater went on trips around the world that included Mexico and even China.

“We had a lot in common. And so, we become more than just friends. We become buddies. And of course, we would do a lot of things together. We would shoot groundhogs in the summertime.”

President Cater passed away at 100 years old died peacefully Sunday, Dec. 29, at his home in Plains, Georgia, surrounded by his family. He was 100, the longest-lived president in U.S. history.

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