Century, Heritage Farms recognized during state fair

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 354 Century Farms and 119 Heritage Farms were recognized.

Century Farms honored
from Jasper County include:

• The William A. Jennings farm, in Prairie City, established in 1909.

• The Gary Allen Link farm, in Mingo, established in 1905.

• The David Peters farm, in Newton, established in 1863.

• The Keith and Linda (Van Wyk) Roorda farm, in Monroe, established in 1916.

• The T & M Trust farm, owned by Timothy J. Leonard & Michele R. Leonard of Newton, established in 1914.

• The Carl Van Zee and Lloyd Van Zee farm, in Sully, established in 1889.

Heritage Farms honored
from Jasper County include:

• The Hansen farm, in Baxter, including titleholders Debbie Hansen, Dorothy Faidley, Rich Cannon, Milt Cannon, Macy Lisk, Rachel Douglas, Kathryn Khan, Vicki Hungate, Craig Miller, Pam Gastineau, Peggy McCoy, Kristi Hassler, Neal Krueger, Kent Krueger and Alicia Peterson, established in 1867.

• The David Peters farm, in Newton, established in 1863.

• The Schnell Farms Inc., owned by David and Andrea Schnell and Richard and Linda Schnell in Sully, established in 1858.

• The Darlene D. Schwarz/Schwarz Family Trust farm, in Baxer, established in 1965.

“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 2017 Century and Heritage Farms Program ceremony was held at the Iowa State Fair in the Pioneer Livestock Pavilion on Aug. 17. Craig Hill, President of the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, or Joe Heinrich, Vice President of the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation joined Northey to recognize all 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 a great place to recognize the Century Farm and Heritage Farm recipients.”

Editor’s Note: No photo was available for the Schwarz Family Trust Heritage Farm in Baxter.