Last Call for Century and Heritage Farm Applications

Applications must be postmarked by June 1, 2019 to be recognized at Iowa State Fair

DES MOINES, Iowa (May 9, 2019) – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig reminds eligible farm owners to apply for the 2019 Century and Heritage Farm Program by June 1, 2019. The program is sponsored by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation and recognizes families that have owned their Century Farm for 100 years or Heritage Farm for 150 years.

“The Century and Heritage Farm Program is one way to recognize the hard work and dedication that is necessary to keep a farm in the same family for 100 or 150 years,” Naig said. “The award ceremony provides a great opportunity to consider all of the challenges and unexpected obstacles each of them would have to overcome during their time on the farm.”

The processes for both Century and Heritage Farm applications are available at https://iowaagriculture.gov/century-and-heritage-farm-program. Applications may also be requested from Becky Lorenz, Coordinator of the Century and Heritage Farm Program via phone at 515-281-3645, email at Becky.Lorenz@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. To date, more than 19,000 farms from across the state have received this recognition. 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. In 2018, 359 Century Farms and 148 Heritage Farms were recognized.

A full list of all past Century Farm recipients is available at www.iowacenturyfarms.com.

The ceremony to recognize the 2019 Century and Heritage Farm Families is scheduled to be held at the Iowa State Fair on Thursday, August 15, in the Pioneer Livestock Pavilion.