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Indiana families receive Hoosier Homestead awards

Nearly 70 farm families were recognized for their commitment to agriculture during the Hoosier Homestead Award Ceremony on Friday.

Indiana State Department of Agriculture Director Bruce Kettler says it’s an honor to recognize the farm families.

“It’s one my favorite things to do because you get to hear so many neat stories—people talking about ancestors, how they got started, what the farm was 100 years ago, and how it has changed over time,” he says. “It’s really neat to be able to connect with people, see the stories, and try to understand a little bit about the heritage and history of what they’ve been able to do.”

Indiana Lieutenant Governor Suzanne Crouch says she always looks forward to engaging with Indiana’s historic farming families during the Hoosier Homestead Award ceremonies.

“The longstanding values, dedication and resiliency these families will ensure their farm and family’s legacy live on for many generations,” she says.

The Boyd family farm in Hancock County received the Sesquicentennial award.

Kay Boyd tells Brownfield her great-great grandfather started the farm in 1851.

“I’m thankful for my family and that we’ve all continued to be together and realize how important farming is to our family and the state of Indiana,” she says.

Today, she says the seventh generation is operating the farm.

To receive the award, farms must be owned by the same family for more than 100 consecutive years and consist of more than 20 acres. Indiana farms may qualify for three awards: Centennial Award for 100 years of ownership, Sesquicentennial Award for 150 years of ownership, and Bicentennial Award for 200 years of ownership.

Kettler says the ceremony also highlights the state’s diverse agriculture industry.

“You get to talk to people through this program who maybe started out with livestock and dropped it off or vice versa. Or there are specialty crops and farms,” he says. “It’s neat to listen to people say why they’ve changed things. Maybe they added a crop because another family member was coming back to the farm, and they needed to find a way to diversify (the operation) or bring in another income source. If you talk to enough people long enough at the ceremony, you find out all the things that are really neat about Indiana agriculture and why this is such a fun event for us to do as a department.”

Since the program’s inception in 1976, nearly 6,000 families have received the Hoosier Homestead Award.

There will be another Hoosier Homestead Award ceremony during the Indiana State Fair in August.