Minnesota families who have owned their farms for 100 years or more are encouraged to apply for the 2010 Century Farm Program. More than 8,800 Minnesota farms have been honored since the program’s inception in 1976.

Family farms are recognized as Century Farms when they meet three qualifications. The farm must be: 1) at least 100 years old according to authentic land records; 2) in continuous family ownership for at least 100 years (continuous residence on the farm is not required); and 3) at least 50 acres.

A commemorative certificate signed by State Fair President Dennis Baker, Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation President Kevin Paap and Gov. Tim Pawlenty will be awarded to qualifying families, along with an outdoor sign signifying Century Farm recognition.

Applications are available online at www.mnstatefair.org, (click the “Recognition Programs” link at the bottom of the home page); at www.fbmn.org; by calling the State Fair at (651) 288-4481; or at statewide county Extension and county Farm Bureau offices.

The submission deadline is April 1. Recipients will be announced at the beginning of June. Previously recognized families should not reapply.

Information on all Century Farm families will be available at the Minnesota Farm Bureau exhibit during the 2010 Minnesota State Fair, which runs Aug. 26 through Sept. 6. A Century Farm database is available at www.fbmn.org.

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This article was jointly submitted by the Minnesota State Fair and the Minnesota Farm Bureau.