A total of 56 farming families across Indiana were recognized with the Hoosier Homestead Award in recognition of their commitment to Indiana agriculture during a ceremony Friday at the Indiana Statehouse.
To be named a Hoosier Homestead, farms must be owned by the same family for more than 100 consecutive years and consist of more than 20 acres. If less than 20 acres, the farm must produce more than $1,000 of agricultural products per year. Indiana farms may qualify for three honors: Centennial Award for 100 years of ownership, Sesquicentennial Award for 150 years of ownership and the Bicentennial Award for 200 years of ownership.
Since the program’s inception in 1976, over 6,000 families have received the Hoosier Homestead Award. Many past awardees can be identified by the sign proudly displayed in front of the family farm or field.
“It is a true honor to be in the historic Statehouse today celebrating your incredible family farming history,” said Indiana Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, who also serves as Indiana’s Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development. “Your commitment to Indiana and our agriculture history and future is renowned. It was awe-inspiring to celebrate this family achievement with you all today.”
“Being a farmer myself I know how challenging it is to farm today in general, and to keep the same property in the family for decades on end, no less,” said Don Lamb, Director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture. “This award being presented today to your farming families is proof of your dedication to agriculture, to our State and to feeding our world, so I thank you.”
Below is the list of the Hoosier Homestead Award recipients honored during the spring 2023 ceremony (Listed by County, Award Name, Award Year, and Award Type):
ADAMS COUNTY
- Maller, 1889—Centennial
- Peter D. & Barbara Moser, 1838—Sesquicentennial
ALLEN COUNTY
- Koenenman, 1899—Centennial
- Ronald J. & Linda K. Schlatter, 1835—Sesquicentennial
- Ronald J. & Neil C. Schlatter, 1835—Sesquicentennial
- Schuhler/Connor/Loesch, 1866—Sesquicentennial
BARTHOLOMEW COUNTY
- Tooley-Calvin, 1907—Centennial
BENTON COUNTY
- Atkinson, 1852—Sesquicentennial
- Brandt, 1886—Centennial
- Ferguson/Creek, 1871—Sesquicentennial
CASS COUNTY
- Berlet, 1918—Centennial
CLAY COUNTY
- Dierdorf, 1889—Centennial
- Keith & Paula Jones, 1870—Sesquicentennial
- Wayne R. & Mary A. Jones, 1905—Centennial
- Zurcher, 1868—Sesquicentennial
DEARBORN COUNTY
- Decker, 1919—Centennial
- Hoog, 1919—Centennial
DELAWARE COUNTY
- Smith, 1892—Centennial
FOUNTAIN COUNTY
- Gray, 1869—Sesquicentennial
FRANKLIN COUNTY
- Meyer, 1920—Centennial
GRANT COUNTY
- Harner, 1850—Sesquicentennial
- Philip W. Corey, 1866—Sesquicentennial
GREENE COUNTY
- Hays, 1855—Sesquicentennial
HAMILTON COUNTY
- Sowers-Pickett, 1918—Centennial
HARRISON COUNTY
- Crosier, 1917—Centennial
- Pate/Gettelfinger, 1906—Centennial
HOWARD COUNTY
- McQuiston-Howell, 1880—Centennial
HUNTINGTON COUNTY
- Thorne, 1910—Centennial
JOHNSON COUNTY
- Becker, 1919—Centennial
KOSCIUSKO COUNTY
- McSherry Farms, Inc., 1838—Sesquicentennial
LAGRANGE COUNTY
- Strayer, 1916—Centennial
MADISON COUNTY
- Williams, 1920—Centennial
MARTIN COUNTY
- Brown, 1922—Centennial
NEWTON COUNTY
- Constable, 1869—Sesquicentennial
- Frank Douglas Best & John Berry Best, 1860—Sesquicentennial
NOBLE COUNTY
- Hooley, 1920—Centennial
ORANGE COUNTY
- Dennis F. & Patricia F. Cleveland, 1842—Sesquicentennial
OWEN COUNTY
- Watson, 1907—Centennial
PIKE COUNTY
- Charles Wayne & Barbara J. Satkamp, 1922—Centennial
PUTNAM COUNTY
- Carter, 1862—Sesquicentennial
- Risk, 1870—Sesquicentennial
RANDOLPH COUNTY
- Bowen, Taylor, Cowen, 1882—Centennial
RIPLEY COUNTY
- Boggess/Bauman, 1922—Centennial
RUSH COUNTY
- Harcourt, 1873—Sesquicentennial
SHELBY COUNTY
- Marvin Covalt, 1922—Centennial
TIPPECANOE COUNTY
- Meisenhelder-Jones, 1859—Sesquicentennial
TIPTON COUNTY
- Phenias A. Salsberry, 1896—Centennial
WABASH COUNTY
- Albright, 1847—Sesquicentennial
WARREN COUNTY
- Adams, 1896—Centennial
- Akers, 1868—Sesquicentennial
- Fleming, 1918—Centennial
WARRICK COUNTY
- Titzer, 1913—Centennial
WAYNE COUNTY
- Druley-Pierce, 1866—Sesquicentennial
WELLS COUNTY
- DeVoe, 1841—Sesquicentennial
- Fred & Emma (Meyer) Nuerge, 1913—Centennial
WHITLEY COUNTY
- Milton Rupley, 1923—Centennial
The 2023 Summer Hoosier Homestead Award Ceremony will take place on Aug. 16 during the Indiana State Fair at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.
Source: The Indiana State Department of Agriculture.