REYNOLDSBURG – Two Crawford County farms and one in Richland County were among 125 new properties added to the Ohio Historic Family Farms program in 2017.
The Crall-Lohr Farm (1880) and the Schimpf Farm (1888) were recognized in the past year as historic properties. The Hamman Farm (1841) was the sole addition from Richland County.
They join other historic Crawford County properties listed under the following names: Marilyn Burkholder (1820); James Springer (1834); Verlin Dunlap (1836); The Graf Family (1839); Dirk Stineman (1839); Kenneth Cahill, Linwood Farm (1843); Brian J. Steinhilber (1848); Denis and Lisa Hoover, Walther Family Farm (1854); John and Wanda Schimpf (1864); Kenneth Cahill, Huber Farm (1875); Andrew B. and Tonya K. Lohr (1880); Corrine Harrer (1881); Bradley J. and Melissa S. Pope (1885); Donald F. and Oneata M. Schimpf (1888); Allen and Diane Hartschuh (1889); Glade Hiler (1894); Nancy Crum (1900); Dwight Stuckey (1901); and Keith Swalley (1901).
Richland County farms on the list include: Jesse H. Hamman, Hamman Noble Boyce, LLC. (1841); Donald and Lauren Shaffer, Westview Suffolk Sheep Farm (1848); Carlton Fernyak II, Fernwood Farm LLC (1856); McCarron Family (1871); Robert Sponseller (1899).
Ashland County properties to make the list include: Sugargrove Farm (1823); Suzanne Blakley (1824); Marilyn Wilkins and Patricia Young, Harvey-Algeo Family (1837); Denny Smith (1838); Tod and Anna Crumrine (1859); Larry Mumper (1889); Ronald Smith (1901); Ronald Smith (1903); Gaylord and Marjorie Elson (1908).
In 2017, the Ohio Department of Agriculture recognized 125 new century, sesquicentennial or bicentennial farms owned by the same family for at least 100, 150 or 200 consecutive years. Nearly 1,500 farms are now registered across the state in the Ohio Historic Family Farms program.
Each family received a certificate signed by Governor John R. Kasich and Ohio Department of Agriculture Director David T. Daniels to keep with their historic documents and pass down to future generations.
“Our historic family farms are an important link to Ohio’s great agricultural history and promising future,” said Director Daniels. “It’s an honor every time we are able to recognize Ohioans who take such great pride in their own agricultural heritage.”
Ohio Historic Family Farms is a voluntary recognition program administered by the Ohio Department of Agriculture. Century farms have been recognized since 1993, with the bicentennial farm designation added in 2013, and the sesquicentennial farm designation in 2016.
The attached list of families registered their farms in 2017. A complete list of Ohio’s century, sesquicentennial and bicentennial farms is available here.
Anyone who can verify that a currently owned farm has remained in their family for at least 100 years may register. For more information, visit agri.ohio.gov/divs/cent_farms, or contact Erin Dillon at 614-752-9817 or centuryfarms@agri.ohio.gov.
