DES MOINES –Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey recognized Century and Heritage Farm families during a ceremony at the State Fair again this year. To qualify, a family must have owned at least 40 acres for 100 years or more in the case of Century Farms and 150 years or more for a Heritage Farm.
This year 345 Century Farms and 69 Heritage Farms were recognized.
“The Century and Heritage Farm program is a celebration of Iowa agriculture and the farm families who feed the world and care for the land. It is always a special privilege and a great joy to be able to honor these families who represent the rich legacy of Iowa Agriculture,” 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, now 17,486 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 now 583 farms have been recognized.
The 2012 Century and Heritage Farms Program ceremony was held at the Iowa State Fair on Tuesday, August 14. Craig Hill, President of the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, or Joe Heinrich, Vice President of the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, joined Northey in recognizing the award recipients.
“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 an ideal place to recognize the Century Farm and Heritage Farm recipients.”
