Area families were among those recognized during a Friday ceremony at the Statehouse aimed at honoring Hoosier farming families. Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch and Indiana State Department of Agriculture Director Ted McKinney presented 39 families with a Hoosier Homestead Award in recognition of their commitment to Indiana agriculture.

“Agriculture contributes $31 billion to our state’s economy, and it’s because of the hard work, dedication and innovation of Indiana’s farming families,” said Lt. Governor Crouch. “I want to congratulate them on earning the Hoosier Homestead Award and for their commitment to continuing Indiana’s legacy as an agricultural leader.”

To be named a Hoosier Homestead, farms must be owned by the same family for more than 100 consecutive years, and consist of more than 20 acres or produce more than $1000 of agricultural products per year. Based on the number of years, farms were eligible to receive the Centennial Award for 100 years of ownership, the Sesquicentennial Award for 150 years of ownership and the Bicentennial Award for 200 years of ownership. Notably, the Bicentennial Award was presented to one family during Friday’s ceremony.

Since the program’s inception in 1976, more than 5,000 families have received the Hoosier Homestead Award.

Families honored included:

Glenn & Nellie Glick – Sesquicentennial (Bartholomew County);
Original Speaker Lane Farm – Centennial (Bartholomew County);
Deniston – Sesquicentennial (Decatur County);
Evans – Sesquicentennial (Decatur County);
Wischmeier/Wehmiller – Sesquicentennial (Jackson County);

“Generation after generation of Indiana’s farming families have dedicated their lives to feeding their neighbors, the state and the world,” Director McKinney said. “They have contributed so much to our state’s legacy, both economically and socially, and are the engine that drives our industry forward. It was an honor to recognize all of these great families at the Statehouse.”