Farm and ranch families who have owned their land for a century or more were honored this year at the South Dakota State Fair, receiving a Century or Quasquicentennial Farm award from the South Dakota Farm Bureau.
This year, 58 families were honored with the Century award for 100 years of ownership and 25 were honored with the Quasquicentennial award for 125 years of family ownership. More than 50 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 and the South Dakota Department of Agriculture. A few families were interviewed on camera for www.agamerica.tv, a new web-based television channel featuring the people of agriculture.
Since the program began in 1984, South Dakota Farm Bureau and the South Dakota Department of Agriculture have recognized more than 2,700 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.
Helpful links:
View the 2013 recipients' names here
View the families' photos here