South Dakota Farm Bureau Honors 69 Century and 125-Year Farm & Ranch Families
Farm and ranch families who have
owned their land for a century or more were honored on August 28 at the South
Dakota State Fair, receiving a Century or Quasquicentennial Farm award
from the South Dakota Farm Bureau and the South Dakota Department of
Agriculture.
This year, 42 families were honored with the Century award for 100 years
of ownership and 27 were honored with the Quasquicentennial award for
125 years of family ownership. Sixty of the families were able to be in
attendance for the awards ceremony. Each had the opportunity to say a
few words about their farm or ranch and enjoy fellowship and a meal
provided by Farm Bureau.
Since the program began in 1984, South Dakota Farm Bureau and the South
Dakota Department of Agriculture have recognized 2,770 farm and ranch
families with these awards. To be recognized, at least 80 acres of the
original land must still be owned by the same family, and they must be
able to provide proof of the original date of purchase.
The photo to the left shows the Hainy Family of Wessington Springs, one of the families recognized as a Quasquicentennial Farm Family.
One award recipient was especially noteworthy this year:
Earle "Pete" Tanner, age 103, was in attendance at the program to receive his family's Century Farm award. Earle has lived 100 of his years not only on the same farm, but in the very same farmhouse that was built in 1914.
The photo below shows Earle being introduced by Lucas Lentsch, South Dakota's Secretary of Agriculture. Earle received a hearty ovation from the large crowd, to whom he told "God bless you all!"