Alcorn farm earns Centennial Homestead Award

Distinctive big red barn was on the Alcorn family farm property when it was purchased in 1918.

Courtesy photo

A 100-year-old Putnam County family farm was among those honored with a Hoosier Homestead Award during a recent ceremony at the Indiana Statehouse.

Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch and Indiana State Department of Agriculture Director Bruce Kettler presented the Alcorn family and 54 others with Hoosier Homestead Awards, recognizing their commitment to Indiana agriculture.

To be named a Hoosier Homestead, farms must be owned by the same family for more than 100 consecutive years, and consist of 20 acres or more, or produce more than $1,000 in agricultural products per year.

Indiana State Department of Agriculture Director Bruce Kettler (left) and Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch present members of the Alcorn family with a Hoosier Homestead Centennial Award for their Floyd Township farm. Joan Alcorn and Ron Alcorn hold the ceremonial signs while (to their right) joining in the ceremony are Deb Alcorn Lanie and Jane Alcorn. Also looking on are (from third left) Jennie Alcorn King, Roddy King, Addie Jones, Elle Jones, Cammie Alcorn Johnston, Stephanie Jones, Bill Hill, Dottie Alcorn Hill, John Lanie, Rick Johnston, Lauren Johnston and Jeff Hutchens.

Courtesy photo

The Alcorn farm -- originally platted as 87 acres along the south side of U.S. 36 in Floyd Township -- was purchased by Bert and Blanche Alcorn on Aug. 29, 1918.

The distinctive big red barn was on the property when it was purchased, granddaughter Deb Alcorn Lanie noted.

The Alcorns’ son, Harold Alcorn and his wife Joan continued farming the property with major crops being corn and soybeans. They have also raised beef cattle and swine along with “lots of 4-H animals.”

The land is now being farmed by their son and his wife, Ron and Jane Alcorn, and their two sons, Jay Alcorn and Kyle Alcorn.

Lt. Gov. Crouch had nothing but praise for Hoosier family farms during the recent Statehouse ceremony.

“Agriculture is very much a family affair, with roughly 97 percent of farms family-owned and operated nationwide,” Crouch said. “For generations, these families have been foundational to the social and economic advancement of Indiana, and recognizing their legacy was a tremendous honor.”

Families are eligible for three different distinctions of the Hoosier Homestead Award, based on the age of the farm. They can receive the Centennial Award for 100 years, Sesquicentennial Award for 150 years or Bicentennial Award for 200 years of ownership.

Since the program’s inception in 1976, more than 5,500 families have received the award.

“It takes hard work and perseverance to keep a family farm a continued success for so many years,” State Ag Director Kettler said. “This award is a testament to the resiliency of these farmers, as well as their longstanding commitment to Indiana, agriculture and family.”

Among adjacent counties, Parke and Montgomery also had farms earning centennial honors during the program.

In Parke County, the family farm owned by Thomas D. Thompson and Vera M. Lear was honored. It has been an active farm in their family since 1886.

The Goff-Clark family farm in Montgomery County was also honored. It has been operated by the family since 1912.