Friends and neighbors,
As you know, Minnesota has a long, rich history of farming and agriculture innovation. What you may not know is that most Minnesota farms are family owned and operated. These family farms are the heart of many small towns across our district and across the state.
Some of these farms have been run by the same families for over 100 or even 150 years. The State Fair and Farm Bureau honor these century and sesquicentennial farms each year, and I wanted to take a moment to recognize this year’s honorees.
- Century farms have been in continuous family ownership for at least 100 years and encompass 50 acres or more. Receiving the Century Farm honor is a momentous achievement, signifying a family’s commitment to preserving their land and way of life across multiple generations. Since the program began back in 1976, over 11,000 Minnesota farms have earned this distinguished recognition.
- The Sesquicentennial Farm designation is reserved for a rare and special group of farms that have remained in the same family for 150 years or more. To qualify, the farm must be at least 50 acres in size and actively involved in agricultural production. Just imagine – these families have nurtured the same land through the Civil War era, two World Wars, the Great Depression, and every other national and global event over the past century and a half.
The families being honored this year show the best of Minnesota farming – working hard, never giving up, and keeping family farms going.
We congratulate these families who have kept their farms for many generations. They show that with dedication, farms can thrive for the long-term. These families inspire us. They have taken care of their land and maintained its history. We hope they continue to find success for many more generations!
Dakota County
- Cannon Falls – Elmegca Farm, 1873
Goodhue County
- Goodhue – McNamara Farm 1861
- Goodhue – Forsell Farm, 1873
Wabasha County
- Kellogg – Mahoney-Irish Farm, 1869
Wabasha County
- Theilman – Drew & Rachel Wilson, 1920