Dustin Vande Hoef
Communications Director
515/281-3375 or 515/326-1616 (cell)
or Dustin.VandeHoef@IowaAgriculture.gov
DES MOINES – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey will recognize Century Farms, where families that have owned the same farm for 100 years or more, and Heritage Farms, where families have owned the same farm for 150 years or more, at the Iowa State Fair again this year. This year 346 Century Farms and 66 Heritage Farms will be recognized.
The presentations will be made on Tuesday, Aug. 17 on the Budweiser stage at the Iowa State Fair. Century Farm presentations will be made starting at 9:00 a.m. and Heritage Farm presentations will be made that afternoon following the Century Farms presentations.
The Century and Heritage Farm Program is sponsored by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the Iowa Farm Bureau. The Century Farm program began in 1976 as part of the Nation’s Bicentennial Celebration and nearly 17,000 farms from across the state will have received this recognition. The Heritage Farm program was started in 2006, on the 30th anniversary of the Century Farm program and more than 450 farms will have been recognized.
Who: Bill Northey, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture
Where: Budweiser Stage (South of Grand Ave. Gate) – Iowa State Fair Grounds
When: Century Farms Presentations - Tuesday, Aug. 17, 9:00 a.m.
Heritage Farms Presentations – Afternoon of Tuesday, Aug. 17 (following Century Farms Presentations)
What: Presentations to Century and Heritage Farm Recipients
How: For more information about the event please contact Dustin Vande Hoef with the Iowa Department of Agriculture at 515-281-3375 or 515/326-1616 (cell)
Northey, a corn and soybean farmer from Spirit Lake, is serving his first term as Secretary of Agriculture. His priorities as Secretary of Agriculture are the opportunities in renewable energy, conservation and stewardship, and telling the story of Iowa agriculture.
