June 1 is deadline to apply for Century and Heritage Farm honors

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey reminded eligible farm owners that the deadline to apply for the 2012 Century and Heritage Farm Program is Friday, June 1. The ceremony to recognize the 2012 Century and Heritage Farms will be at the Iowa State Fair on Tuesday, August 14.

 

The program recognizes families that have owned their farm for 100 years in the case of Century Farms and 150 years for Heritage Farms. The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the Iowa Farm Bureau sponsor the award.  "Century and Heritage Farm awards are a great opportunity to celebrate the families that make up Iowa agriculture and recognize the hard work and commitment necessary to keep a farm in the family for 100 or 150 years," Northey said. "I hope eligible families will take the time to apply and then come to the State Fair to be recognized."

 

Applications are available on the Department's website at www.IowaAgriculture.gov by clicking on the Century Farm or Heritage Farm link under "Hot Topics."  Applications may also be requested from Becky Lorenz, coordinator of the Century and Heritage Farm Program, by phone at 515-281-3645, by email at Becky.Lorenz(at)IowaAgriculture.gov or by writing to Century or Heritage Farms Program, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Henry A. Wallace Building, 502 E. 9th St., Des Moines, IA 50319.

 

The Century Farm program began in 1976 as part of the nation's Bicentennial  Celebration. More than 17,000 farms from across the state have received the recognition. The Heritage Farm program was started in 2006, on the 30th anniversary of the Century Farm program. More than 500 Heritage Farms have been recognized.  Last year 341 Century Farms and 56 Heritage Farms were recognized.