INDIANAPOLIS (Aug. 18, 2021) — Today, at the Indiana State Fair, Lt. Gov Suzanne Crouch and Indiana State Department of Agriculture Director Bruce Kettler presented 73 family farms with a Hoosier Homestead Award, recognizing their family’s longstanding commitment to Indiana agriculture.

To be named a Hoosier Homestead, farms must be owned by the same family for more than 100 consecutive years, and consist of 20 acres or more, or produce more than $1,000 in agricultural products per year.

“Agriculture has always been and continues to be a vital and thriving industry in our state,” Crouch said. “I always look forward to honoring these Hoosier Homestead Award recipients on their family’s commitment to their farm, community and heritage.”

Families are eligible for three different distinctions of the Hoosier Homestead Award, based on the age of the farm. They can receive the Centennial Award for 100 years, Sesquicentennial Award for 150 years or Bicentennial Award for 200 years of ownership.

Since the program's inception in 1976, nearly 6000 families have received the award. Often, a Hoosier Homestead farm is easily recognized because most recipients proudly display their awarded sign on their property.

“Each of these Hoosier Homestead farms have such a unique and important story behind them,” Kettler said. “Managing and operating a farm is no simple task, and I commend each of the families that receive this award for their dedication and devotion to agriculture.”

The following list includes the August 2021 Hoosier Homestead Award recipients.

Adams

Kiefer, 1882, Centennial

Allen

Scherrer, 1900, Centennial

Bartholomew

Anthers, 1871, Sesquicentennial

Bartholomew

O'Neal -- Dickey, 1919, Centennial

Benton

English, 1871, Centennial and Sesquicentennial

Benton

Hasser, 1916, Centennial

Brown

Parsley, 1920, Centennial

Carroll

Been, 1910, Centennial

Carroll

Duff, 1921, Centennial

Carroll

Penn, 1867, Centennial and Sesquicentennial

Clark

Johnson, 1921, Centennial

Clay

Edward & Anna Spaeth, 1921, Centennial

Clay

Harvey Fell, 1918, Centennial

Daviess

Bean, 1907, Centennial

Decatur

Carroll, 1871, Sesquicentennial

DeKalb

George E. Baker, 1918, Centennial

DeKalb

Rosenbury, 1906, Centennial

DeKalb

Tustison/Hook, 1845, Sesquicentennial

Dubois

Hoppenjans, 1921, Centennial

Dubois

Lawrence Gutgsell, 1910, Centennial

Fayette

Winfield Schockey/David Dean, 1921, Centennial

Franklin

Brier, 1906, Centennial

Franklin

Knecht, 1846, Centennial and Sesquicentennial

Franklin

McNally, 1918, Centennial

Franklin

Schuck/Knecht, 1879, Centennial

Franklin

Schuck/Knecht, 1902, Centennial

Gibson

Hardiman/Lyles/Nolcox/Solomon, 1915, Centennial

Hamilton

Ringer, 1894, Centennial

Harrison

Leffler, 1874, Centennial

Harrison

Reinhardt, 1871, Sesquicentennial

Hendricks

Dillon, 1917, Centennial

Howard

Jean Gesse -- Kingseed Farm, 1848, Centennial and Sesquicentennial

Howard

Davis, 1920, Centennial

Howard

Breisch, 1848, Centennial and Sesquicentennial

Howard

Kingseed, 1903, Centennial

Howard

Kingseed, 1919, Centennial

Huntington

Brubaker, 1899, Centennial

Jackson

Anthony - Browning - Robbins, 1919, Centennial

Jackson

Garriott - Robbins, 1914, Centennial

Jackson

George Parke Vehslage, 1862, Centennial and Sesquicentennial

Jackson

Pfaffenberger, 1853, Centennial and Sesquicentennial

Jasper

Smith, 1871, Sesquicentennial

Jay

Bell, 1885, Centennial

Jennings

Anthers/Blair, 1821, Bicentennial

Jennings

Biehle, 1906, Centennial

Jennings

Biehle, 1906, Centennial

LaPorte

Shebel, 1920, Centennial

LaPorte

Steve and Joann Jensen, 1871, Sesquicentennial

Lawrence

Fountain, 1920, Centennial

Martin

Sherfick, 1920, Centennial

Miami

Clendenning/Fouts/See, 1841, Sesquicentennial

Miami

Crockett, 1865, Centennial and Sesquicentennial

Morgan

Charles J. Kirk, 1906, Centennial

Morgan

Oliver, August, & Alice Dilley, 1902, Centennial

Morgan

Rawlins, 1917, Centennial

Noble

Raymond & Karen Parker, 1917, Centennial

Parke

Lennie C. Pyle, 1920, Centennial

Pulaski

Theodore & Lowell Podell, 1900, Centennial

Pulaski

William Meyer, 1899, Centennial

Putnam

Jeffries, 1885, Centennial

Randolph

Fogle, 1919, Centennial

Randolph

Harry & Florence Smith, 1920, Centennial

Shelby

Clark - Rehme, 1866, Sesquicentennial

Shelby

Harrod, 1899, Centennial

St. Joseph

Beehler, 1860, Sesquicentennial

Union

Brattain, 1871, Sesquicentennial

Vanderburgh

Henry Schlensker, 1870, Sesquicentennial

Vanderburgh

Niederhaus/Karch, 1839, Sesquicentennial

Vigo

Tryon, 1844, Centennial and Sesquicentennial

Wabash

Chamberlain, 1920, Centennial

Wells

Steiner, 1863, Centennial and Sesquicentennial

White

Johnson - Barnhart, 1916, Centennial

White

Milton & Emma Marshall, 1917, Centennial

 

Photos from today's ceremony will be posted to ISDA's Flickr page by Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2021. For more information about the Hoosier Homestead Award program, click here or visit isda.in.gov.

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