Two Century Farm Families, Carpenter and Doyle, recognized by Daviess/Caldwell County Extension

by Becky Simpson, Daviess County 4-H Youth Specialist, CPD

Two area Century Farm families were honored on Feb. 23, at the annual meeting of the Daviess/Caldwell County University of Missouri Extension councils. The families honored were, the Richard G. and Cheri L. Carpenter Family of Daviess County and the John Lyle Dole family of Caldwell County. Each family was presented with a certificate, a book listing other century farm families, and a sign to be displayed at their family farms by Jayla Smith, Chair of Daviess County Extension Council.

The Missouri Century Farm program’s history dates back to 1976 as a result of the Missouri Committee for Agriculture which was co-chaired by James B. Boillot, Director, Missouri Department of Agriculture, and Elmer R. Kiehl, Dean of the College of Agriculture, University of Missouri. The committee’s purpose was to organize the American Revolution Bicentennial celebration in Missouri. One activity that was initiated by the committee was the "Centennial Farm" project which awarded certificates to persons owning farms that had been in the same family for 100 years or more. Recognizing a continuing interest, the College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources and University of Missouri Extension planned a "Missouri Century Farm program to carry out a ten-year update in 1986. This program has been sustained as a yearly event with over 100 farms recognized each year.

The event took place at Tri- County High School and was catered by the Tri-County FCCLA Star Events winners. Also honored at the Annual Meeting were Steve May and David Holcomb, Extension Leaders Honor Roll recipients. Linda Stewart, Daviess County Clerk was on hand to give the oath of office to the new Daviess County Extension Council Members. They include Diane Wilson, Olin Vanderslice, Mary Gingerich and David Cox.