Ten Family Farms in SEI Recognized with Hoosier Homestead Award

To be named a Hoosier Homestead, farms must be owned by the same family for more than 100 consecutive years.

INDIANAPOLIS – Over 100 Indiana family farms were presented with Hoosier Homestead Awards on Thursday.

Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch and the Indiana State Department of Agriculture recognized 103 Hoosier family farms for their longstanding commitment to agriculture.

“The Hoosier Homestead ceremony is always a highlight of the Indiana State Fair for me,” said Crouch, Indiana’s Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development. “Celebrating these longstanding farming families and their ancestors for their work and commitment to our state and Indiana agriculture is a true honor.”

To be named a Hoosier Homestead, farms must be owned by the same family for more than 100 consecutive years, and consist of 20 acres or more, or produce more than $1,000 in agricultural products per year.

Based on the age of the farm, families are eligible for three different distinctions of the Hoosier Homestead Award. They can receive the Centennial Award for 100 years, Sesquicentennial Award for 150 years or Bicentennial Award for 200 years of ownership.

Locally, 10 family farms located in Dearborn, Franklin or Ripley counties were among the honorees.

• Graf-Lingg, 1847, Dearborn County, Centennial & Sesquicentennial
• Lutz, 1923, Dearborn County, Centennial
• Stone, 1908, Dearborn County, Centennial
• Miles, 1905, Franklin County, Centennial
• Thompson, 1854, Franklin County, Centennial & Sesquicentennial
• Bulmer, 1916, Franklin County, Centennial
• Meier-Bachus, 1889, Franklin County, Centennial
• Ahrens, 1873, Ripley County, Sesquicentennial
• Bergman/Engle, 1923, Ripley County, Centennial
• McNeelan, 1863, Ripley County, Centennial & Sesquicentennial

“Keeping a farm operational for 100 years or more is no simple task,” Lamb said. “Each passing generation has certainly had to adapt and evolve their farming practices and techniques to ensure their farms continued success.”

Since the program's inception in 1976, over 6,100 families have received the award.

For more information about the Hoosier Homestead Award program, please visit isda.in.gov. Photos from the ceremony are available here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/isda_gov/albums/72177720310559554.