08/09/12 In honor of Indiana’s rich agricultural heritage, the Hoosier Homestead Award Program recognizes families with farms that have been owned by the same family for 100 years or more. Indiana family farms may qualify for the Centennial Award – 100 years of ownership, the Sesquicentennial Award – 150 years of ownership, or the Bicentennial Award – 200 years of ownership. Not only does the farm have to owned by the same family for over 100 years, it must consist of more than 20 acres and produce at least $1,000 worth of agricultural products per year.
On Wednesday morning 75 families were presented with the Hoosier Homestead Award at the Indiana State Fair. Two family farms were honored yesterday, the Kline farm (1859) and the Snyder Farm (1911).
The program was instituted in 1976 and recognizes the contributions these family farms have made to the economic, cultural and social advancements of Indiana. In the past 30 years, more than 5,000 farms have received the honor.
There are two Hoosier Homestead Ceremonies each year. One is at the State House in February and the other is during the State Fair in August. The deadline to apply is two month prior, therefore; for the February ceremony the deadline is December 1st and for the August ceremony the deadline is June 1st.
