Iowa recently honored 398 farm families for their long-lasting commitment to farming and their local communities. This special recognition was given through the Century Farm and Heritage Farm programs.
These programs celebrate farms that have been owned by the same family for a really long time – either 100 years for the Century Farm program or 150 years for the Heritage Farm program.
At a special event held at the Iowa State Fair, important people from the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation and the Iowa Secretary of Agriculture, Mike Naig, gave out these awards.
Mike Naig talked about how important it is to achieve these milestones and how proud the families must feel. He said these families have helped make Iowa's farms better and stronger. He also praised their hard work and how they never gave up, even when things were tough.
Brent Johnson, who is the President of the Iowa Farm Bureau, agreed with Mike Naig. He said that being a part of these farm families isn't something that happens quickly. It takes many years of hard work, taking care of the land, and always being a good part of the local community.
The Century Farm program started a long time ago in 1976 when the country celebrated its 200th birthday. The Heritage Farm program is newer and started in 2006.
To be a part of the Century Farm program, a farm has to belong to the same family for 100 years and still be a working farm. For the Heritage Farm program, the farm has to belong to the same family for 150 years and still be active.
These 398 special farms come in all shapes and sizes, with different kinds of crops and animals. Some families have been farming for over 150 years, while others are newer to the program.
The Century and Heritage Farm programs are a way of saying thank you to these special families who have been a big part of Iowa's farming history. These farms are important to Iowa's economy and culture, and they deserve this recognition for their hard work and dedication.
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Categories: Iowa, Business