Local farms honored for longevity, family dedication

Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch and Indiana State Department of Agriculture Director Bruce Kettler honored 88 families and their farms with the Hoosier Homestead Award at the Indiana State Fair for their longstanding commitment to Indiana agriculture.

Locally, the Victor A. Beckman farm, Joshua J. Himsel farm and the Weisman farm were recognized for being owned by the same family for more than 100 consecutive years.

The Victor A. Beckman farm, founded in 1849, received Centennial and Sesquicentennial awards and was founded in 1849.

The Joshua J. Himsel farm, founded in 1887, received a Centennial Award.

The Weisman farm, founded in 1866, received a Sesquicentennial Award.

In addition to being owned by the same family for more than 100 years, the farms must also be 20 acres or more or produce more than $1,000 in agricultural products per year.

Since the program’s inception in 1976, more than 5,500 families have received the award.

“Keeping any business in operation for more than 100 years is no small accomplishment, let alone in the same family,” Kettler said. “There is something special about generational farming in Indiana, and it was an honor to recognize these families — their legacy — at the great Indiana State Fair.”