News : Area families to earn Century, Heritage Farm honors

One Benton County family will be recognized for a Heritage Farm Award and five families will be recognized for Century Farm awards in 2013. These families will travel to Des Moines to the Iowa State Fair on August 13th and receive a certificate and farm marker from the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation.

Carol and Jack Aschenbrenner’s farm in rural Vinton was established in 1859 and they will receive a Heritage Farm Award. Their farmland has remained in the family for 154 years. Receiving Century Farm Awards will be Joe Brehm of rural Van Horne, Merlon G. Kranz of rural Newhall, Norman and Marcia McClintock and Dennis and Terry Primrose both of rural Shellsburg and Jay Schmuecker of rural Blairstown. These family farms have had ownership in the family for 100 years or more in Benton County.

Congratulations to these families, it is a remarkable achievement to have been able to work the same farmland for multiple generations. It is quite a legacy to pass on, lessons of land stewardship, hard work, patience, dedication, the importance of family and community and many other vital lessons in life.

The Century Farm Program recognizes and honors those individuals who have owned the farmland for 100 years or more. The program began in 1976 as part of the Bicentennial Celebration, when over 5,000 certificates and farm markers were distributed across Iowa at local ceremonies. The Heritage Farm Program began in 2006 and recognizes and honors ownership and operation of a farm by members of the same family for 150 years.

A family member must have at least 40 acres of the original holding of the farmland to qualify for either of the Century Farm or Heritage Farm Awards. Applications are due to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship office in Des Moines by June 1st of the year applying. Awards are then presented to the families every year at the Iowa State Fair in August. Representatives from both IDALS and Iowa Farm Bureau Federation are on hand for the presentations.

Benton County has had a total of 300 Century Farms awarded from 1976 to 2013 and 11 Heritage Farms awarded from 2006 to 2013. The state of Iowa has had nearly 18,000 Century Farms and 600 Heritage Farms awarded. Applications, directions and eligibility information can be printed from the IDALS website or call (515) 281-3645. Congratulations to all of these families for being recognized and taking pride in their rural heritage.