Friends and neighbors,
Minnesota has a long legacy of agriculture, with small family farms holding a special place in the state's farming tradition. Over 85% of farms are individual or family-run operations that serve as pillars of rural communities and embody our agricultural heritage.
Among these homesteads, a distinguished few have been continuously worked by the same families for over a century, some for nearly a century and a half. These historic farms are honored by the State Fair and Farm Bureau with Century Farm and Sesquicentennial Farm awards, celebrating their remarkable longevity and contributions to Minnesota's agricultural landscape.
- Century farms have been in continuous family ownership for at least 100 years and encompass 50 acres or more. Receiving the Century Farm honor is a momentous achievement, signifying a family's commitment to preserving their land and way of life across multiple generations. Since the program began back in 1976, over 11,000 Minnesota farms have earned this distinguished recognition.
- The Sesquicentennial Farm designation is reserved for a rare and special group of farms that have remained in the same family for 150 years or more. To qualify, the farm must be at least 50 acres in size and actively involved in agricultural production. Just imagine - these families have nurtured the same land through the Civil War era, two World Wars, the Great Depression, and every other national and global event over the past century and a half.
The families honored this year epitomize the defining values of Minnesota agriculture - hard work, perseverance, and a commitment to sustaining family farms for posterity.
We applaud these multigenerational farmsteads for preserving their historical bonds to the land. They are inspirations to us all, demonstrating that with dedication and care, farms can prosper across generations. We celebrate their past achievements and wish them continued success in the future!
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