Secretary Naig Honors Century and Heritage Farm Families in Eastern Iowa

DES MOINES, Iowa (Aug. 19, 2020) – Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig and Iowa Farm Bureau Federation President Craig Hill honored families from Jackson, Dubuque and Cedar Counties with Century and Heritage Farm awards yesterday. In order to achieve Century or Heritage farm status, generations of a family must maintain ownership of the land for 100 years or 150 years, respectively.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Century and Heritage Farm awards ceremony was not held at the Iowa State Fair like past years. A small, regional ceremony was held at the Jackson County Farm Bureau building to recognize the families who received this honor.

“Farm families have endured many challenges over the past century and the current pandemic is yet another challenge these families must overcome,” said Secretary Naig.  “Celebrating with the Century and Heritage Farm families is one thing I look forward to every year. Iowa agriculture is rooted in strength and we continue to draw on that strength by recognizing a few families who received this honor.”

"Agriculture and our farm families have long been critical to the vitality of rural communities across the state and the backbone of Iowa’s economy,” said Craig Hill, Iowa Farm Bureau President. “It’s a tremendous honor to co-sponsor the Century and Heritage Farm program recognizing the multi-generational farm families that have persevered countless challenges over 100 or 150 years and kept their farms in the family.”

The families recognized yesterday include:

• Dallas & JoAnn Rekemeyer from Cedar County – Century Farm

• Roger E. Quade and Patricia R. Quade from Dubuque County – Century Farm

• Patrick J. Walsh and Carol A. Walsh from Dubuque County- Century Farm

• David Puls from Dubuque County – Heritage Farm

• John and Mary Kay Egan - Niemann Egan Heritage, LLC from Jackson County – Heritage Farm

There were 238 families who received the Century Farm award and 103 families who received the Heritage Farm award this year. Families who received the award in 2020 could choose to participate in a small regional event like the ceremony held in Jackson County or the 2021 Iowa State Fair. The full list of Century and Heritage Farm awardees is available at iowaagriculture.gov/century-and-heritage-farm-program and photos can be accessed on the Department’s Flickr account.

Photos are posted on the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship’s Flickr page and will be updated as the regional events are held. Photos will be labeled with the county and family's name. Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig and Craig Hill, President of the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, presented the awards.