Local Farming Families Honored with Hoosier Homestead Award

The Hoosier Homestead Award honors farms that have been family-owned for over 100 years.

INDIANAPOLIS - Eight local farming families are amongst those to receive a Hoosier Homestead Award. 

On Friday, Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch and Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) Director Bruce Kettler presented 69 families with a Hoosier Homestead Award in recognition of their commitment to Indiana agriculture.

To be named a Hoosier Homestead, farms must be owned by the same family for more than 100 consecutive years and consist of more than 20 acres. If less than 20 acres, the farm must produce more than $1,000 of agricultural products per year. Indiana farms may qualify for three honors: Centennial Award for 100 years of ownership, Sesquicentennial Award for 150 years of ownership and the Bicentennial Award for 200 years of ownership.

Local award recipients include: 

• Dearborn, Bulach, 1909, Centennial
• Dearborn, Kuebel/McCarty, 1855, Sesquicentennial
• Franklin, Fledderman, 1922, Centennial
• Franklin, Joseph & Madaline Niedenthal, 1919, Centennial 
• Franklin, Middendorf-Goldsmith, 1858, Sesquicentennial
• Ohio, Vorbroker, 1872, Sesquicentennial
• Ripley, John W. & Emo Vestal, 1902, Centennial
• Ripley, Simon, 1915, Centennial

“I always look forward to engaging with Indiana’s historic farming families during the Hoosier Homestead Award ceremonies,” Crouch said. “The longstanding values, dedication and resiliency these families will ensure their farm and family’s legacy live on for many generations.”

For a full list of award recipients, visit 69 farming families honored with the Hoosier Homestead Award - State of Indiana.