A trio of Greene County farms were among 354 farms added to the rolls of Century Farms in a program Aug. 17 at the Iowa State Fair. A Century Farm is one of at least 40 acres which have been owned by the same family for at least 100 years.
Another 119 farms were honored as Heritage Farms, having been owned by the same family for 150 years or more.
Owners of new Greene County Century Farms are Kimberly Kay Adair, Michel Renee Emig and Owen Scott Swaink, 1144 R Ave, Jefferson; Jerald and Cindy Deal, 1668 K Ave, Jefferson; and Martha L. Engstrom, County Road P-46 (X Ave) between 110th and 120th Sts, Paton.
The awards were presented Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey, Craig Hill, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation president Craig Hill, and Iowa Farm Bureau Federation vice president Joe Heinrich.
“The Century and Heritage Farm awards ceremony is one of my favorite days of the year. It is a tremendous celebration of the families who have cared for the land and raised the crops and livestock that helped build our state and feed the world. To own a farm for 100 or 150 years is a testament to the values of land stewardship, hard work, patience, dedication and perseverance that are found in Iowa’s farm families,” Northey said.
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship has partnered with the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation since 1976 to recognize families that have owned and worked a farm for 100 years or more. Including this year’s recipients, more than 19,000 farms from across the state have been recognized.
The Heritage Farm program was started in 2006, on the 30th anniversary of the Century Farm program and more than 1,000 farms have been recognized.
“The program acknowledges the deep roots of Iowa agriculture and the special bond that exists between Iowa families and the land they farm,” Northey said. “The Iowa State Fair is a celebration of Iowa and Iowa agriculture, so it’s a great place to recognize the Century Farm and Heritage Farm recipients.”
