During the celebration of the “Year of the Farmer” at the Indiana State Fair, 67 Hoosier families were presented with the Hoosier Homestead Award for their dedication to Indiana agriculture.
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 recognized are Centennial, Sesquicentennial and Bicentennial – for 100, 150 and 200 years respectively.
Southern Indiana farms making the list included the Lane Lane family farm, owned by Dennis Sherman in Knox County, which received a centennial honor having began in 1915.
The Fuhs family owns three farms in Dubois County, which have been in operation since 1861, 1889 and 1910. Currently owned by Mary C. Lange, the Fuhs family received one sesquicentennial award for 150 years of ownership and two centennial honors.
The Jerel Meyer farm of Dubois County, which began in 1871, was awarded a centennial honor.
In addition several Spencer County farms were recognized.
The Hoosier Homestead program was established in 1976 to acknowledge the contributions made by farming families to Indiana’s economy and overall advancement. The 67 families honored this year join more than 5,000 Hoosier Homestead farms.