Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig recently recognized 398 Iowa farm families, designating them as Century or Heritage Farms. The ceremony was held at the Iowa State Fair Thursday, highlighting the families who have maintained ownership of their farms for 100 and 150 years, respectively. This year’s event celebrated the achievements of 242 Century Farms and 156 Heritage Farms. Since its inception, more than 21,000 Century Farms and 1,800 Heritage Farms have received recognition throughout Iowa. The Century Farm program was established in 1976 as part of the Nation’s Bicentennial Celebration, while the Heritage Farm program commenced in 2006. Naig says, “Achieving a Century or Heritage Farm milestone is a source of immense pride for an Iowa farm family. It’s important that we honor these generational families for the positive impact they have made on Iowa agriculture and acknowledge their resiliency, dedication, commitment, and hard work. The Century and Heritage Farm Program recognizes Iowa’s deep tradition of family farming, and having the opportunity to congratulate each of the families, hear their inspiring stories, and celebrate their remarkable accomplishments makes this event one of my favorite of the entire year.” A list of the recipients and their photos can be found included with this story on our website.
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Century and Heritage Farm Program | Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship
