Area Farmers Honored For 100 Years in Business

By:  Local Sources

Area legislators today announced the latest recipients of the Hoosier Homestead Award, which recognizes farms that have been owned and maintained by the same family for 100 years or more.

The Hoosier Homestead Award Program recognizes families that have made significant contributions to Indiana agriculture. The program, instituted in 1976, recognizes the impact these family farms have made to the economic, cultural and social advancements of Indiana.  In the past 30 years, more than 5,000 farms have received the honor.  

Represented by State Sen. Mark Messmer (R-Jasper) and State Rep. Steve Bartels (R-Eckerty), two locally owned farms were honored at the Statehouse:

·       The Lee farm in Spencer County received a Centennial and Sesquicentennial Award; and
·       The Singer/Scott farm in Spencer County received a Centennial Award.

“Agriculture plays a key role in Indiana’s economy, contributing billions of dollars per year to our state,” Messmer said. “I congratulate these families for putting in the hard work to keep their farms in operation and applaud them for passing on their heritage to the next generation of Hoosier farmers.”

“Family farms remain an essential part of our state’s economy,” Bartels said. “Agriculture would not be the same without family-owned farms. They help feed our communities, provide jobs and strengthen our economy.”

To be named a Hoosier Homestead, farms must be owned by the same family for at least 100 consecutive years and consist of more than 20 acres or produce more than $1,000 of agricultural products per year. The award distinctions are Centennial, Sesquicentennial and Bicentennial – for 100, 150 and 200 years respectively.