DES MOINES (IDALS) – June 1 is the deadline for eligible farm owners to apply for 2016 Century and Heritage Farm Awards.

The program recognizes families that have owned their farm for 100 years in the case of Century Farms and 150 years for Heritage Farms.

Farm families with a qualifying farm must submit an application to the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship no later than June 1 to qualify for recognition at the Iowa State Fair this year.

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 Becky Lorenz, coordinator of the Century and Heritage Farm Program by calling (515) 281-3645; by email at Becky.Lorenz@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 program is sponsored by IDALS and the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation. The ceremony to recognize the 2016 Century and Heritage Farms is scheduled to be held at the Iowa State Fair on Aug. 18 in the Pioneer Livestock Pavilion.

This is the 40th anniversary of the Century Farm program, which was started in 1976 as part of the Nation’s Bicentennial Celebration.

To date more than 18,600 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 837 farms have been recognized.

Last year 366 Century Farms and 101 Heritage Farms were recognized.