STATEHOUSE (Aug. 13, 2019) – Area legislators today announced the latest recipients of the Hoosier Homestead Award, which recognizes farms that have been owned and maintained by the same family for 100 years or more.
The Hoosier Homestead Award Program honors families that have made significant contributions to Indiana agriculture. The program, instituted in 1976, recognizes the impact these family farms have made to the economic, cultural and social advancements of Indiana. In the past 40 years, more than 5,500 farms have received the honor.
Represented by State Sen. Chris Garten (R-Charlestown) and State Reps. Steve Davisson (R-Salem), Terry Goodin (D-Austin) and Jim Lucas (R-Seymour), five locally owned farms were honored at the Indiana State Fair:
“Growing up working on a farm was an opportunity I will forever be grateful for. Thanks to the dedicated agriculture community, Indiana is the 10th largest farming state in the United States and eighth largest agricultural exporter,” Garten said. “It is because of our state’s hard working farmers, like those honored with Hoosier Homestead Awards, that Indiana remains a national leader. I commend them for their historic accomplishment, selfless commitment and wish them the best for generations to come.”
“The farm was one of the first family businesses in our state, and it’s incredible to see so many Hoosiers keep their operations going for more than a century,” Davisson said. “These families have devoted their lives to this business while making Indiana one of the top agriculture-producing states in the nation.”
“Our state’s fertile soil makes for some of the best crops in the nation,” Lucas said. “Farmers have a unique set of skills to constantly produce a great harvest and raise healthy livestock, and these families have mastered their craft for generations.”
“Farms and the families that maintain them are the backbone of America and the lifeblood of our great state,” said Goodin. “It has been my privilege to know Dan and Sue and the Smith family for many years, and they exemplify the very best our country and our state has to offer. Their lifelong goal is to feed our country, and they do it with great humility and compassion.”
To be named a Hoosier Homestead, farms must be owned by the same family for at least 100 consecutive years and consist of more than 20 acres or produce more than $1,000 of agricultural products per year. The award distinctions are Centennial, Sesquicentennial and Bicentennial – for 100, 150 and 200 years respectively.
Two Hoosier Homestead award ceremonies are held each year – one at the Statehouse in March and one at the State Fair in August. To learn more about the program or to apply for a Hoosier Homestead award, visit www.in.gov/isda/2337.htm.
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High-resolution photos of the award recipients can be found by visiting www.flickr.com/photos/isda_gov/albums/72157710283956171 or by clicking on the farm’s name above.
Note: Not all award recipients attended the ceremony at the fairgrounds
State Sen. Chris Garten represents Senate District 45, which includes all of Jefferson, Scott and Switzerland counties, and portions of Clark and Jackson counties.
State Rep. Steven Davisson represents House District 73, which includes all of Washington County, and portions of Orange, Lawrence, Clark, Jackson and Harrison counties.
State Rep. Randy Frye represents House District 67, which includes all of Ripley, Ohio and Switzerland counties, and portions of Decatur, Jennings, Jefferson and Dearborn counties.
State Rep. Terry Goodin represents House District 66, which includes portions of Clark, Jefferson and Scott counties.
State Rep. Jim Lucas represents House District 69, which includes portions of Bartholomew, Jennings, Jackson, and Jefferson counties.
