Quasquicentennial Farm and Ranch Award at South Dakota State Fair

Posted: 7/17/2012

SOUTH DAKOTA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: July 16, 2012
Media Contact: Susan Zilverberg, 605-773-5425

 

HURON, S.D. – Farm families that have enjoyed 100 or 125 years of life on the farm or ranch have the opportunity to be honored during the South Dakota State Fair on Thursday, Aug. 30.

Century Farms have been recognized at the State Fair since 1984 by the South Dakota Department of Agriculture (SDDA) and the South Dakota Farm Bureau (SDFB).

Farms and ranches that had been family-owned for 125 years or more were recognized in a quasquicentennial event last year.  That tradition will continue this year.  Recognition of the Quasquicentennial Farms will immediately follow the Century Farms program.

“Farm and ranch families are the backbone of South Dakota agriculture,” said SDFB President Scott VanderWal.  “Families that have survived 125 years of drought, floods, winter storms, insects and difficult economic times should be recognized for their great achievements.”

A farm or ranch is eligible for Century Farm recognition if at least 80 acres of original land has been continuously owned by the same family for 100 years or longer.  A Quasquicentennial Farm must meet the same acreage requirements and be owned by the same family for 125 years or longer.

“It takes many generations of commitment to keep a farm or ranch in the family for 100 or 125 years,” said South Dakota Secretary of Agriculture Walt Bones.  “These farm and ranch families represent the steadfast dedication that South Dakota has to agriculture.  Agriculture is here to stay.”

Application forms can be obtained online for both the Century Farm and the Quasquicentennial Farm recognition at www.sdfbf.org or http://sdda.sd.gov/Secretary/Century-Farms  or by calling 605-353-8052.  All forms must be completed and notarized before being returned by Aug. 13 to the South Dakota Farm Bureau, P.O. Box 1426, Huron, SD, 57350.

The South Dakota State Fair will run Aug. 30-Sept. 3 at the State Fairgrounds in Huron.  You can find the South Dakota State Fair on Facebook and Twitter.  For more information, log onto www.sdstatefair.com

Agriculture is South Dakota's No. 1 industry, generating nearly $21 billion in annual economic activity and employing more than 80,000 South Dakotans.  The South Dakota Department of Agriculture's mission is to promote, protect, preserve and improve this industry for today and tomorrow.  Visit us online at http://sdda.sd.gov  or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

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