Representative Tom Hurst recently signed a resolution making October “Century Farm Family Month” in Maries County.

This resolution was spearheaded by Presiding Commissioner, Victor Stratman, the Maries County Extension Council, and County Engagement Specialist, Kelsie Lineback. During the September Maries County Extension Council meeting in Vienna, Stratman proposed the idea to the council of having a formal resolution made in the county. Lineback was in charge of contacting the representative’s office to request the resolution to be made. Upon contact with Representative Tom Hurst, the resolution was written, passed, and signed. Each of the four century farm families for the calendar year of 2020 will receive a signed and framed copy of the resolution, courtesy of Tom Hurst and his office staff.

The Maries County Extension Council members wanted to recognize the five century farms in Maries County this year, as the annual Century Farm Family Dinner had to be canceled due to COVID-19 restrictions. The motion was made to make the month of October as “Century Farm Family Month” in Maries County in an effort to publicly recognize the families. The Maries County Extension council and office are proud of the county’s century farms and wanted to ensure they were properly recognized this year despite COVID-19 complications.

In order to qualify to be a Century Farm, families must have owned the farm for 100 consecutive years or more as of December 31, 2020. The line of ownership from the original settler or buyer may be through children, grandchildren, siblings, and nephews and nieces, including through marriage or adoption, and the present farm shall consist of no less than 40 acres of the original land and shall make a financial contribution to the overall farm income.