Indiana Hoosier Homestead Award Program

Sunday, September 8, 2013

By MARK EVANS, 4-H Youth Educator

Last week when working with a family regarding 4-H opportunities, the person stated the family had owned the farm more than 100 years.

Asked if the farm and family had been awarded and recognized with the Hoosier Homestead Award, the response was that the family would be interested in applying though did not know the process. Let's take a look at this prestigious award.

In 1976, former Lt. Gov. Robert D. Orr and the Indiana Department of Commerce's Division of Agriculture, now the Indiana State Department of Agriculture, created a statewide program called the Hoosier Homestead Award. The program recognizes farms that have been owned by the same family for 100 years or more and stresses the contributions these family farms have made to the economic, cultural and social advancement of Indiana.

Information of historical value on each Hoosier Homestead farm is deposited with the Indiana State Archives. The Archives provides an onlinehttp://www.in.gov/serv/icpr_homestead searchable database for awards presented from 1976 to present containing the names of the first and second applicants, the award date, date the homestead was established and the county where the homestead is located. During the above period, Putnam County had 44 farms listed with the most recent a change from centennial to sesquicentennial designation.

There are three awards. The Centennial award is for 100 years, Sesquicentennial award for 150 years, and finally the Bicentennial award for 200 years.

To be recognized as a Hoosier Homestead Farm, interested parties must complete an application that is available through the Indiana State Department of Agriculture website http://www.in.gov/isda/2340.htm (click link at top right of page) or ask at the Extension office and one can be printed for you.

The following criteria must be met for a successful application. Property must either be a minimum size of twenty acres or produce at least one thousand dollars in agricultural products during one year. Property ownership must have been in the same family for at least 100 years and a direct relationship must be established between the present owner and the owner of one hundred years ago. All applications must be accompanied by documentation to prove family ownership. This documentation may include copies of those portions of the abstract which shows conveyance of title, the original deed or other verification for the transfer of ownership from one relative to the next. Please submit copies only and not the original documents.

Those who qualify for the Hoosier Homestead Award will be recognized at a ceremony held at the State Capitol. Each family will receive a commemorative certificate signed by the governor and the lieutenant governor who also serves as Indiana's Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. In addition, recipients of the award will be eligible to purchase a yard sign which designates their property as a Hoosier Homestead Farm. The Indiana State Department of Agriculture reviews all applications for the award.

There are two Hoosier Homestead ceremonies each year. One is at the State House in February while the other is during the Indiana State Fair in August. The deadline to apply is two months prior thereby having a Dec. 1st deadline for the February program and a June 1st deadline for the Indiana State Fair program. For further information, contact the Indiana State Department of Agriculture at 317-232-8770 or email Abigail Maurer at amaurer@isda.in.gov with specific questions.

Visit our homepage at www.extension.purdue.edu/putnam or you can contact the local Purdue Extension Office by calling 653-8411 for more information regarding this week's column topic or to RSVP for upcoming events. It is always best to call first to assure items are ready when you arrive and to RSVP for programs. While many publications are free, some do have a fee. All times listed are Eastern Time.

Upcoming events

Sept. 9 -- Leader Lesson: "Social Media -- Understanding and Teaching our Children About It" 7 p.m., Extension Office

Sept. 10 -- 4-H Council meeting, 6:30 p.m., Extension Office

Sept 12 -- Extension Homemakers County Council Meeting, 7 p.m., Extension Office

Sept. 24 -- Extension Homemakers Clubs Achievement Night -- Refreshments at 6:30 p.m., Program at 7 p.m., Putnam County Fairgrounds