Photo: Joshua Levering/ WFIU
Becky Skillman was at the State Fair to honor family farms.
Families with farms that have survived at least 100 were honored at the Indiana State Fair Wednesday.
72 family farms received the Hoosier Homestead Award. In order to be eligible, farms had to have been owned by the same family for more than 100 consecutive years and consist of 20 acres or more or produce at least $1,000 worth of agricultural products per year.
Lieutenant Governor Becky Skillman says the award is meant to honor the state’s farming tradition.
“This is just a small way for the state of Indiana to say thank you,” she said, “thank you for all you’ve contributed to our state.”
Mike Crosby’s farm in Adams County has been in his family for 175 years. He says he’s grateful to the state for the award.
“It means a lot to us,” he said, “to be in the family, or the farm in the family since 1836, a lot of heritage there. A lot of things have happened on that farm and hopefully another 200 years, a lot more will happen.”
15 families, including Crosby’s, were given the Sesquicentennial Award for farms 150 years old or more.
