More than five hundred Iowa farm families were honored at this year’s Iowa State Fair with Century or Heritage Farm designations.
The annual recognition celebrates families who have owned their farms for 100 and 150 years, respectively. This year, 274 Century Farms and a record 240 Heritage Farms were recognized.
The 2026 ceremonies also carried added significance as Iowa celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Century Farm Program, the 20th anniversary of the Heritage Farm Program and American 250. Each 2026 Century and Heritage Farm family received a certificate and farm sign featuring the America250 seal.
Among the local farm families honored this year:
Century Farm Awards (100+ Years) – with origin date of farm listed
Clayton County
Jay & Lori Farmer of Strawberry Point – 1926
Hefel Farm – Lester & Leila of Holy Cross – 1919
Daryl & Jody Wille of Garnavillo – 1907
Delaware County
Delwyn & Joyce Curtis of Manchester – 1926
Kurt & Kathy Knipper of Earlville – 1926
Shodel Inc. of Delhi – 1920
Jennifer L. Taken of Edgewood – 1916
Jennifer L. Taken of Manchester – 1907
Charles & Donna Vaske of New Vienna – 1907
Dubuque County
Roger R. and Mary A. Boge of Farley – 1921
Joseph A. and Mary F. Goebel of Guttenberg – 1903
Helen E. Kemp of Holy Cross – 1925
David Francis & Lori Ann Klein of Durango – 1924
Kevin Klein of Worthington – 1922
Lawrence E. & Rebecca A. Kremer of Worthington – 1906
Fayette County
John W. & Sharon D. Orr of Fayette – 1905
Jones County
Stanley Daniel & Roberta Ann Cook of Monticello – 1926
Tom M. Hughes of Cascade – 1920
Duane & Sonya Manternach of Monticello – 1925
Glenn & Barb Tobiason of Scotch Grove – 1926
Heritage Farm Awards (150+ Years) – with origin date of farm listed
Buchanan County
Sadler Farm LLC of Aurora – 1875
Clayton County
Hubbard Family Farm of Elkader – 1876
Winding Acres (Hanson Family) of Elgin – 1876
Delaware County
Carl Deppe of Dyersville – 1853
Randy & Margaret Geistkemper of Dyersville – 1868
Daniel, Anthony and Jess Overmann of Earlville – 1873
Floyd A. Sampson of Colesburg – 1876
Dubuque County
Mathew J. & Vicki L. Knepper of Cascade – 1867
Chris Prier of Dyersville – 1876
Mark & Julie Riegler of Sherrill – 1867
Fayette County
Cory & Jeanessa Meyer of West Union – 1876
Nate & Angie Meyer of West Union – 1876
Scallan Family Farm of Waucoma – 1855
Kelly & RoseAnn Wander of Elgin – 1876
Jones County
Doyle Family Farm of Monticello – 1873
John & Kathy Harms of Monticello – 1876
Andrew J. Petersen of Onslow – 1870
Linn County
LaVern R. Kula of Monticello – 1861
The Century and Heritage Farm Awards were presented by Iowa Ag Secretary Mike Naig and Iowa Farm Bureau Federation President Brent Johnson. Since the programs began, more than 21,000 Century Farms and more than 2,400 Heritage Farms have been recognized across Iowa.
photo courtesy of IDALS