DES MOINES Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey Monday reminded eligible farm owners that June 1 is the deadline to apply for the 2011 Century and Heritage Farm Program. The program recognizes families that have owned their farm for 100 years in case of Century Farms and 150 years for Heritage Farms.

“The Century and Heritage Farm presentations at the State Fair are a great chance to celebrate Iowa’s deep agricultural heritage and I hope eligible families will consider taking the time to apply for recognition,” Northey said.

Farm families interested in participating in the Century or Heritage Farms Program must have their applications postmarked no later than June 1, 2011.

Applications are available on the Department’s website at www.IowaAgriculture.gov by clicking on the Century Farm or Heritage Farm link under “Hot Topics.”

Applications may also be requested from Linda Rosky, Coordinator of the Century and Heritage Farm Program via phone at (515) 281-3645, email at Linda.Rosky@IowaAgriculture.gov, or by writing to Century or Heritage Farms Program, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Henry A. Wallace Building, 502 E. 9th St., Des Moines, IA 50319.

The ceremony to recognize the 2011 Century and Heritage Farms will be held at the Iowa State Fair and is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, August 16th.

The Century and Heritage Farm program is sponsored by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the Iowa Farm Bureau.

The Century Farm program began in 1976 as part of the Nation’s Bicentennial Celebration and nearly 17,000 farms from across the state have received this recognition. The Heritage Farm program was started in 2006, on the 30th anniversary of the Century Farm program, and more than 450 farms have been recognized.

Last year 346 Century Farms and 66 Heritage Farms were recognized.

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