Century Farm

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A century farm sign in Oregon, United States

A Century Farm or Centennial Farm is a farm or ranch in the United States or Canada that has been officially recognized by a regional program documenting the farm has been continuously owned by a single family for 100 years or more. Some regions also have Sesquicentennial Farm (150 years) and Bicentennial Farm (200 years) programs.

In most states and provinces, the essential requirement for the award is that the property must have remained in the same family continuously for 100 years or more and currently be a working farm or ranch.[1] Some states stipulate a minimum number of acres or annual agricultural sales.[1]

Background

Canada

In Canada, Century Farm recognition in the province of Ontario was initiated as a Canadian Centennial project of the Junior Farmers' Association of Ontario (JFAO) in 1967.[2] In Alberta the Alberta Century Farm & Ranch Award is administered by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development[3] and similar programs are run by individual counties and municipalities.[4]

United States

In the United States, one of the first organizations to begin officially recognizing the farms was the New York State Agricultural Society in 1937. Several states began their programs during the United States Bicentennial in 1976. Recognition from state to state varies. It is usually handled by the state's agriculture or natural resources department in conjunction with the American Farm Bureau Federation and the Cooperative extension service of the United States Department of Agriculture, or the state's historical society. In other states, civic groups such as the Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben perform the function. The awards are frequently done at the state fair.

The award typically defines a farm as 40 acres (16 ha) or more and consists of a plaque and a sign as well as formal listing.

In Oregon, in addition to century farms and ranches, the Department of Agriculture began to recognize sesquicentennial farms and ranches in 2008.[5]

StateProgramFoundedMin. acresOversightNotes
Alabama Century and Heritage Farm Program[6] 1976 40 acres (0.16 km2) and some current agricultural activity Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries
Colorado Centennial Farms 1993 160 acres (0.65 km2) or gross at least $1,000 in annual sales Colorado Historical Society Office of Archaeology & Historic Preservation[1]
Delaware Century Farm Program
Florida Century Pioneer Family Farm Program[7] Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Georgia Centennial Farms[8] 1993 N/A Historic Preservation Division, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, in cooperation with the Georgia Farm Bureau Federation; the Georgia Department of Agriculture; the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences; the Georgia Forestry Commission; and the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter
Idaho Century Farm and Ranch Program[9] 1972 40 acres (160,000 m2) plus proof of $1000 agricultural related gross income for the 5 years prior to application Idaho State Historical Society
Illinois Centennial and Sesquicentennial Farms[10] 1972 N/A Illinois Department of Agriculture
Iowa Century Farms[11] 1976 40 Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship
Kansas Century Farms[12] 2000 80 Kansas Farm Bureau
Massachusetts
Maryland
Michigan Centennial Farms[13] 1948 10 Historical Society of Michigan
Minnesota Century and Sesquicentennial Farms[14] 1976 50 Minnesota Farm Bureau
Mississippi Centennial Farm Program[15] Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce
Missouri Century Farm Program[16] 1976 40 University of Missouri Extension
Montana Centennial Farm and Ranch Program 24 centennial farms are listed, as of 2013, at Centennial Farm and Ranch Program
Nebraska Pioneer Farm Family Awards[17] 1961 (approx.) N/A Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben Foundation, Nebraska Farm Bureau
Nevada Centennial Ranch and Farm Awards Program

[18]

 2004 Must currently be a working ranch or farm with a minimum of 160 acres, or if less than 160 acres, must have gross yearly sales of at least $1,000. Agricultural Council of Nevada, Nevada Agricultural Foundation, Cattlemen's Association, Nevada Farm Bureau, Heritage Foundation, U.S. Department of Agriculture, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
New York Century Farm Award[19] 1937 N/A New York State Agricultural Society Also has Bicentennial Farm program[19]
North Carolina Century Farm Family Program[20] 1970 N/A North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
North Dakota Centennial Farms[21] 1988 N/A Lewis and Clark Fort Mandan Foundation
Ohio Century Farms[22] 1993 At least $1,000 in agricultural revenues each year[22] Ohio Department of Agriculture Also has a Bicentennial Farm program.[22] Not to be confused with Ohio Bicentennial barns; see Barn advertisement.
Oklahoma Centennial Farm and Ranch Program[23] 1993 40 acres (160,000 m2) and gross at least $1,000 in annual sales, plus the property must be operated by or lived on by a family member, or be leased by a family member over age 65. Historic structures awards are given if four or more buildings or structures remain on the land that are at least 50 years old. Oklahoma State Historic Preservation Office, Oklahoma Historical Society, Oklahoma Department of Agriculture
Oregon Century Farm and Ranch Program[24] 1958 Gross income from farming or ranching activities of not less than $1,000 per year for three out of the five years immediately preceding the application[24] Oregon Agricultural Education Foundation, Oregon Farm Bureau, Oregon State Historic Preservation Office, Oregon Department of Agriculture, Oregon Travel Information Council Also has a Sesquicentennial Farm program
Pennsylvania Century and Bicentennial Farm Program[25] 1937 10 acres (40,000 m2) or gross at least $1,000 in annual sales Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
South Carolina
South Dakota Century Farms[26] 2000 80 South Dakota Department of Agriculture Also has a Quasquicentennial (125 years) Farm program
Tennessee Century Farms[27] 1975 10 acres and at least $1000 in farm income annually Center for Historic Preservation at Middle Tennessee State University, formerly Tennessee Department of Agriculture Also recognizes Pioneer Century Farms (established in or before 1796), and African American Century Farms (farms founded by emancipated slaves and their children)
Texas Family Land Heritage Program[28] 1974 10 acres in continuous agricultural production with annual sales of $50 or more Texas Department of Agriculture
Utah Century Farms & Ranches[29] 1995 Utah Department of Agriculture and Food Nearly 500 farms have been recognized.
Virginia
Vermont
Wisconsin Century and Sesquicentennial Farm and Home Program[30] 1948 8,583 century farms or homes
616 sesquicentennial farms or homes[31]
Wyoming Centennial Farm and Ranch program[32] 2006 (reestablished) 160 acres (0.65 km2) or gross at least $1,000 in annual sales Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office, Wyoming Department of Agriculture, Wyoming Stock Growers Association, Wyoming Wool Growers Association, Wyoming Rural Electric Association

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 http://www.historycolorado.org/archaeologists/centennial-farms Colorado Centennial Farms
  2. ↑ "The Century Farm Sign Project". Junior Farmers' Association of Ontario. Retrieved 2010-01-12. 
  3. ↑ http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/general/progserv.nsf/all/pgmsrv51
  4. ↑ http://www.mdwainwright.ca/asb/farmfamilyawards.html
  5. ↑ "Congratulations to the 2009 Sesquicentennial Award honorees". Oregon Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 2010-01-12. 
  6. ↑ http://www.agi.alabama.gov/chfarms
  7. ↑ http://www.florida-agriculture.com/marketing/century_pioneers.htm
  8. ↑ http://georgiashpo.org/historic/centennial_farms
  9. ↑ http://history.idaho.gov/centuryfarm.html
  10. ↑ http://www.agr.state.il.us/marketing/centfarms
  11. ↑ http://www.iowaagriculture.gov/centuryFarmsProgram.asp
  12. ↑ http://www.kfb.org/CenturyFarm/default.htm
  13. ↑ http://www.hsmichigan.org/centennial/
  14. ↑ http://www.fbmn.org/page/1064/century/farms.html?inet=aD1wcmFnaGVsLXNuZXpmLXlheCZyaD11YnpyLXlheA
  15. ↑ Centennial Farm Program
  16. ↑ http://extension.missouri.edu/centuryfarm/index.html
  17. ↑ http://www.aksarben.org/Programs-and-Events/recognition.htm
  18. ↑ http://www.nv.nrcs.usda.gov/centennial_awards.html
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 http://www.nysagsociety.org/cen_farms/index.htm
  20. ↑ http://www.ncagr.gov/paffairs/century/index.htm
  21. ↑ http://www.fortmandan.com/news/featured.asp?ID=88
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 http://www.agri.ohio.gov/divs/cent_farms/
  23. ↑ http://www.okhistory.org/shpo/historyfr.htm
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 http://www.oregon.gov/ODA/cfr.shtml
  25. ↑ Century and Bicentennial Farm Program
  26. ↑ http://sdda.sd.gov/Secretary/Century-Farms/default.aspx
  27. ↑ http://www.tncenturyfarms.org/
  28. ↑ Family Land Heritage Program
  29. ↑ Utah Century Farms & Ranches designation program
  30. ↑ http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/hp/barns/organizations.asp
  31. ↑ "Farm News: Sesquicentennial And Century Farms Apps Due," Farm Report with Pam Jahnke, February 16, 2012. Retrieved October 26, 2012.
  32. ↑ http://wyoshpo.state.wy.us/CFR/Index.aspx
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike; additional terms may apply for the media files.