Local farms chosen for Hoosier Homestead awards

Several local farms are being recognized by the state with the Hoosier Homestead Award for more than 100 years in operation.

The award recognizes Indiana family farms that reach centennial, sesquicentennial or bicentennial milestones.

Bartholomew County legislators Sen. Greg Walker and State Representatives Ryan Lauer are announcing that four county farms were recognized with the awards including:

• The C&M Arnholt Family Farm received the centennial award
• The Donald D. Voelz Farm received the sesquicentennial award
• The Gary & Nancy Meyer Farm, and the Mensendiek Farm received centennial and sesquicentennial awards.

To qualify for the awards, 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. Since the awards began in 1976 more than 6,000 farms have been recognized.

You can find a link to learn more about the program or to apply here: http://www.in.gov/isda.