Three Farms in Greene County to be Honored by Extension with Century Farm Status July 29 at Ozark Empire Fair

Contact: David Burton, civic communication specialist
Tel: (417) 881-8909
E-mail: burtond@missouri.edu

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- The Missouri Century Farm Program annually recognizes Missouri farms that are still productive and have been in the same family for 100 years or more.

This year, Greene County Extension will host a special ceremony from 6 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Monday, July 29 in the east hall of the E-Plex at the Ozark Empire Fair, 3001 North Grant Ave., Springfield, to honor the three Greene County farms being honored this year.

Starting at 5:30 p.m., members of the Greene County Extension Council will begin their regular monthly meeting at the same location. Council members will then pause at 6 p.m. to conduct the awards ceremony for the Century Farm honorees and then visit the 4-H Exhibit Building.

Members of the public are also invited to view the Century Farm display in the E-Plex. This display is coordinated by Jackie Warfel, a member of the Greene County Historic Sites Board, and it highlights the history of the other Century Farms in Greene County.

Greene County Extension specialists as well as representatives of Farm Bureau, which is the corporate sponsor for this program, will be at the ceremony to present fence signs to the honored families and pose for official photos.

The honored Century Farms in Greene County this year include:

• John and Doris Breakbill of Republic, established 1913

• Warren D. Hardy Jr. of Rogersville, established 1912

• Robert and Mary Mays of Ash Grove, established 1890

In Missouri this year, MU Extension will recognize 201 farms from 84 Missouri counties with Century Farm status.

To qualify for the Missouri Century Farm designation, farms must have been family owned for 100 years or more and have at least 40 acres of the original land still making a financial contribution to the farm income. The line of ownership from the original settler or buyer may be through children, grandchildren, siblings, and nephews or nieces, through marriage or adoption.

To learn more about the Missouri Century Farm program call the Greene County Extension Center at (417) 881-8909 or go online to http://extension.missouri.edu/centuryfarm.