The Agriculture Department is seeking farm families that have owned and farmed the same land for a century or more.
The Arkansas Century Farm program will honor such families that meet the following criteria:
• The same family must have owned the farm for 100 years by Dec. 31, 2012. The line of ownership from the original settler or buyer may be through children, grandchildren, siblings, and nephews or nieces, including through marriage and adoption.
• The farm must be at least 10 acres of the original land acquisition and make a financial contribution to the overall farm income.
The Arkansas Century Farm Program is designed to acknowledge the families who have contributed to our state’s traditions, but also to remind all of us that work is needed to ensure that those traditions continue for future generations," Gov. Mike Beebe said.
Arkansas has more than 49,000 farms on 13.5 million acres.
Qualified applicants will be presented with a personalized metal sign and a certificate. Only the legal owners of the land may apply.
There is no cost to apply for the Arkansas Century Farm program. Applications can be obtained from the Arkansas Agriculture Department by calling 501-225-1598 or from the department’s website at: www.aad.arkansas.gov/Pages/programs.aspx
Applications must be postmarked by August 1, 2012 to be eligible for designation in 2012.