SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Greene County MU Extension and 124 attendees honored the newest Century Farms in the county, celebrated local family farms and heard three outstanding youth speakers at the fifth annual “Salute to Century and Family Farms” event held Sept. 18 at the historic Round Barn Event Center near Ash Grove.
A new recognition this year known as the “Jackie Warfel Most Valuable Farm Award” was presented to the Danny and Janet Hawk Farm near Walnut Grove. The Hawk farm has been in the family 185 years. The original farm was homesteaded in 1833 the same year that Greene County was established.
“Jackie was able to be present the award to the Hawk family for us and shared some of the history of the Hawk and Looney families and their importance to the early establishment of the county,” said David Burton, county engagement specialist in community economic development, University of Missouri Extension. “What a family legacy on that farm! I’m happy that there are a lot of young family members planning to stay and keep the farm going for many years to come.”
CENTURY FARMS
The following four Greene County farms were also recognized with Century Farm status.
Dishman Family Farm: Jeanette Forney and Golden Jane Love – 100 acres near Strafford first farmed by grandfather James King Dishman, 1912.
McCall Family Farm: Harriett McCall -168 acres near Willard first farmed by great-great grandparent Elizabeth McCall in 1871
Lindal and Carol Highfill Farm: Lindal and Carol Highfill – 77 acres near Fair Grove, first farmed by aunt Effie Highfill-Brackett in 1912
Doug and Robin Shelton Farm: Doug and Robin Shelton -180 acres near Willard, first farmed by great-grandfather Jacob Zimmerman in 1911.
STUDENT SPEAKERS
Three student speakers were also be featured speakers and videos of their speeches can be found on the Facebook page of the Greene County Extension Council.
Lauren Waterman, a member of the Bois D’Arc Braves 4-H Club and daughter of John and Michell Waterman, gave a speech entitled, “Heroes.”
Jace Pipkin, a fourth grader at Price Elementary in Republic and a member of the Bois D’Arc Braves 4-H, gave a speech entitled, “Our Family Legacy.” He lives on Clearwater Farm with his parents Jim and Joann Pipkin.
MaKenna Johnson, President of the Ash Grove FFA chapter and the daughter of Angie and Eric Johnson of Ash Grove, gave a speech entitled, “Rural America: The Heartland.”
SPONSORS AND MORE
Sponsors for the evening – including sponsors for the recognized farms and speakers – were Old Missouri Bank, Integrity Homecare and Hospice, Wilson-Griffin Funeral Home, Gordon Feed and Pet, Central Bank of Strafford, Greene County Commission, Greene County Farm Bureau, Greene County Commonwealth, American Business Systems, SOMO Farm Supply, Becks Auto Supply, Greg and Tara Boehne, Dan and Susan Cardwell, and Southwest Electric Cooperative.
To qualify for Century Farm status, a single family must have owned the farm for 100 consecutive years. The farm must be at least 40 acres of the original land acquisition and make a financial contribution to the overall farm income.
— David Burton, University of Missouri Extension
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