Local farms honored at Statehouse

STATEHOUSE (March 28, 2018) – Area legislators today announced the latest recipients of the Hoosier Homestead Award, which recognizes farms that have been owned and maintained by the same family for 100 years or more.

The Hoosier Homestead Award Program recognizes families that have made significant contributions to Indiana agriculture. The program, instituted in 1976, recognizes the impact these family farms have made to the economic, cultural and social advancements of Indiana. In the past 30 years, more than 5,000 farms have received the honor.

Represented by State Sen. Erin Houchin (R-Salem) and State Rep. Shane Lindauer (R-Jasper), two locally owned farms were honored at the Statehouse:

• The Merkel farm in Dubois County received a Centennial Award; and
• The Schroeder farm in Dubois County received a Centennial and Sesquicentennial Award.

“These families, along with other family-owned farms across the state, play an integral part in Indiana’s economy and culture,” Houchin said. “Congratulations to these farms on such an incredible accomplishment and for contributing to the success of agriculture in our state.”

“Over 100,000 jobs in Indiana are in the agriculture industry,” Lindauer said. “When buying local, we support families like the Merkels and Schroeders while they support ours. It’s amazing these family farms have been around for so long. They have strongly contributed to the economy and well-being of our state.”

To be named a Hoosier Homestead, farms must be owned by the same family for at least 100 consecutive years and consist of more than 20 acres or produce more than $1,000 of agricultural products per year. The award distinctions are Centennial, Sesquicentennial and Bicentennial – for 100, 150 and 200 years respectively.