Ten local farms join Century ranks

Staff report
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey recognized 366 Century Farms and 101 Heritage Farms during a ceremony Aug. 20 at the Iowa State Fair.

To qualify, a family must have owned at least 40 acres for 100 years or more in the case of Century Farms and 150 years or more for a Heritage Farm.

The following Greene County farms joined the ranks of the state’s Century Farms:

• The 1913 Jefferson farm of Mike Piepel, Jack Piepel, Becky Sisca Piepel and Peggy Stevens Piepel at 1231 K Ave.

• The 1915 Jefferson farm of Frances Safley on 330th Street.

• The 1914 Scranton farm of Randy and Jenni Christensen and Glen and Cheryl Christensen at 1353 B Ave.

• Three Scranton farms owned by Arlene Klatt established in 1881, 1893 and 1902.

• The 1915 Paton farm of David A. Anderson and Dorothy Anderson (D&D Anderson Farms, Inc.) at 2475 110th St.

• The 1907 Paton farm of Darrell R. Walker, Judith K. Walker, Deborah R. Walker Finnestad and Dawn R. Walker Smith on 110th Street.

• The 1914 Churdan farm of Jerry Schneider at 1242 130th St.

• The 1914 Dana farm of Larry and Lana Miller at 2338 185th St.

“To own a farm for 100 or 150 years is a testament to the values of land stewardship, hard work, patience, dedication and perseverance that are found in Iowa’s farm families,” Northey said.

The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship has partnered with the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation since 1976 to recognize Century Farms.

More than 18,600 farms from across the state have so far been recognized.

The Heritage Farm program was started in 2006, on the 30th anniversary of the Century Farm program, and now 837 farms have been recognized.