History Colorado-Centennial Farms

Welcome to the BARN’s

History Colorado - Centennial Farms Webpage

The BARN & BarnMedia has teamed up with History Colorado to bring you unprecedented

& EXCLUSIVE coverage of the Centennial Farms Program in 2011…

Colorado Centennial Farms Seeks Nominations for 2012 Awards

May 16 deadline!

DENVER — Families who have owned and operated their farm or ranch for 100 years or more are encouraged to submit a nomination to receive a Colorado Centennial Farms award. Selected nominees will be honored at the 25th Annual Centennial Farms Celebration at the Colorado State Fair in Pueblo, Colo., in August 2012. Farmers and ranchers nominating their property for this award must submit an application providing information about the history of their farm and its buildings by end of day on Monday, May 16, 2012.

 Nominees must meet the following requirements to be honored as a Colorado Centennial Farm:

• Farming or ranching properties must have remained in the same family continuously for at least 100 years
• Each property must still be a working farm or ranch
• Farms or ranches must have a minimum of 160 acres
• However, properties with fewer than 160 acres can qualify if they gross at least $1,000 in annual sales

 History Colorado and the Colorado Department of Agriculture created the Colorado Centennial Farms Program in 1986 to recognize the important role that agriculture has played in the state’s history and economic development.

How to nominate:  Download a Colorado Centennial Farms application, or call Lyle Miller at 303-866-2779.

Due Date: May 16, 2012

Centennial Farms Awards:

The 2012 Colorado Centennial Farms awards will be presented at the Colorado State Fair in Pueblo in August. At the ceremony, award recipients will receive a certificate signed by the Governor and a sign to display on their property. In addition, the National Trust for Historic Preservation will recognize families who have maintained the historic buildings on their property that are 50 years old or older.

To date, more than 400 Colorado farms and ranches representing 61 counties across the state have received the Centennial Farms award. The majority of these farms were established between 1880 and 1895.

Questions: Lyle Miller, 303-866-2779 or email  lyle.miller@state.co.us

CHECK OUT THE INTERVIEWS BELOW…MORE COMING IN 2012

• EXCLUSIVE Audio/Video Coverage of the 2011 Colorado Centennial Farms Honoree Presentation from the 2011 Colorado State Fair in Pueblo, CO from August 26th @ 4pm from the Pepsi Stage – CLICK HERE
• EXCLUSIVE Audio Interviews posted here during 2011 with all of this year’s Centennial Farms Award Honorees - LOOK BELOW…MORE COMING IN 2012 starting in February.
• EXCLUSIVE Audio/Video Interviews with members of History Colorado Staff regarding the Centennial Farms Program and/or other History Colorado events or news items.

The 2011 Colorado Centennial Farms Honorees are:

Albert and Thelma Brown Homestead, Yuma, Yuma County (1911)

Box T Ranch, Arapahoe, Cheyenne County (1908)

Elliott Farms, Monte Vista, Rio Grande County (1908)

Fast Heritage Farm, Joes, Yuma County (1911)

Irwin Farm, Lamar, Prowers County (1897)

Kidd Ranch, Sugar City, Crowley County (1911) CLICK HERE to listen to the interview with Gary & Rick Kidd...

Leroux Ranch, Radium, Grand County (1905). CLICK the picture to listen to the interview...

J.A. Lindahl & Co, Akron, Washington County (1906)...Our daughter Kris Vrooman and her family Lee, Justin, Allison, and Megan also Tim's family, Sarah, Elizabeth, Caroline, & Joy attended the presentation at the state Fair via the BARN Media LIVE webcast as Kris lives in central NE and Tim's family because of school commitments was unable to attend in person...CLICK HERE to listen to the interview with Carl Lindahl from November the 8th, 2011

Link Farm, Genoa, Lincoln County (1910)

McLain Family Ranch...CLICK HERE to listen to the interview with Ladonna Mclain of Parlin, CO and the history of their operation in Gunnison County...

Dennis L. Munson, Sedgwick, Sedgwick County (1907) – AUDIO ONLY - 102411_DennisLMunson_3m50s_FINAL

Shapley Ranch, Stoneham, Weld County (1910)

The Skold family during the Centennial Farms celebration at the Colorado State Fair. Skold Farm, Haxtun, Sedgwick County (1911)CLICK the picture to listen to the interview

Spomer Farm, Milliken, Weld County (established in 1911) - In the picture with Van & Ella Marie Hayes is CO Ag Commissioner John Salazar & Special Policy Advisor on Water to the Governor's Office John Stulp & Ed Nichols – President of History Colorado.Spomer Farm, Haxtum, Weld County (1911)CLICK HERE to visit the History-CO Centennial Farm SPOMER Webpage to listen to the interview and see more pictures of their operation.

Thoma Farm, Woodrow, Washington County (1909)

Valentine Ranch LLC, Aguilar, Las Animas County (1907)

Walker Family Ranch, Westcliffe, Custer County (1911)...CLICK HERE to listen their interview inside the BARN

Whomble-Welton Farm & Ranch, Wray, Yuma County (1910)

See a list of all past award honorees (PDF)

ORDER YOUR KEEPSAKE DVD OF THE AWARDS PRESENTATION – CLICK HERE

The BARN/BarnMedia is proud to partner with History Colorado to be the “official radio partner” for the 2011 Centennial Farms Program.

“I look forward to meeting all of this year’s Centennial Farms Honorees and helping History Colorado archive the rich traditions and memories of this year’s honorees…it is an honor to serve them and to work on behalf of History Colorado to do so.”

- Brian Allmer, Owner/Host of The BARN & Barn Media

CLICK HERE to visit the History Colorado Centennial Farms Webpage

For More Information Contact:

Lyle Miller

SHF Outreach Specialist Centennial Farms Coordinator 303-866-2779

NEWS/EVENT PRESS RELEASES

08-05-11 State Historical Fund awards over $6 million in grants to communities across Colorado

 Centennial Farms Program History & Background

The Colorado Centennial Farms program designates farms and ranches that have been owned and operated by the same family for 100 years or more.

Background

In 1986 the Colorado Centennial Farms program was created by Governor Richard D. Lamm, the Colorado Historical Society (now History Colorado) and the Colorado Department of Agriculture to recognize the important role agriculture has played in our state’s history and economic development.  Today, the program is administered by the State Historical Fund, a program of History Colorado.  The Colorado Centennial Farms program was the first program of its kind in the nation to give a Historic Structures Award to families who have successfully preserved historic buildings on their farms and ranches.  The National Trust for Historic Preservation provides this additional recognition.

Why are Centennial Farms Important?

Across the nation, family farms and ranches, historic barns and other agricultural sites are disappearing at an alarming rate.  Yet in Colorado, the family farm and working cattle ranch serve as a reminder of how the West was settled.

The contributions of Colorado’s long-standing farm and ranch families are significant because generations of these families have withstood the pressures of growth, changes in farming methods, drought and economic conditions to preserve these important pieces of our state’s commercial and cultural history.

The Colorado Centennial Farms program not only illustrates the significance of agricultural sites to the development of Colorado, it also shows how vital these properties still are to the well-being of our state today.  Colorado Centennial Farms provide open space and food, as well as support our state’s economy and remind us of our past.

Centennial Farm fact sheet

Annual Awards Ceremony

Each year, Colorado’s newest centennial farm and ranch families are honored during an awards ceremony held in late August at the Colorado State Fair in Pueblo.  Honorees receive a sign to display on their property, as well as a certificate signed by the Governor and other state officials.

For more information about the Colorado Centennial Farms program or to receive an application and brochure, please contact the State Historical Fund. CLICK HERE

History Colorado & Centennial Farms logos are used with their permission