Keenan, John T. Century Farm 1877-1978

KEENAN, KRAMER, RYAN

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer (email)
Date: 8/9/2010 at 19:46:26

CENTURY FARM 1877-1978

CENTURY FARM AWARDS MADE

Receiving the Century Farm award at the 1978 Iowa State Fair were three Plymouth County farms.

Plymouth County Century Farm awards made at the fair were the Keenan farm (Dorothy Ann Kramer) whose farm has been in the family since 1877. (They were not present for photos.)

The Century Farm marker is in metal, and nearly 200 Iowa farm families were presented these markers during the annual event.

To qualify as a Century Farm, the land must have been owned by the same family for at least 100 years with the present owner related to a person who owned the land 100 years ago. The farm must be at least 40 acres.

The Century Farms program began in 1976 when over 5,000 certificates and farm markers were distributed across Iowa at local ceremonies. The program continued in 1977 with over 70 certificates and farm markers being distributed.

The overwhelming response during the past three years has insured the program’s continuation in future years.

Applications for the 1979 Century Farm program may be obtained from any county extension office, county Farm Bureau office or by contacting the Iowa Department of Agriculture, Henry A. Wallace Building, Des Moines, Iowa 50319 (phone 514/281-5736)

~Source: LeMars Daily Sentinel, Thursday, September 28, 1978
NOTES: The John T. Keenan (wife Lucie Ryan Keenan) Century Farm certificate was awarded to the daughter, Dorothy Ann Kramer. The parents of Dorothy Ann Kramer were listed in her obituary in the year 2000.