Sesquicentennial and Century Farm applications now available

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Owners of farms or homes (in whole or part) that have been in continuous family ownership for 100 years or 150 years, are eligible to apply for the 2011 Century Farm or Home Award or the 2011 Sesquicentennial Farm or Home Award.

The Century Farm and Home Program began in 1948 in conjunction with the State of Wisconsin’s Centennial Celebration. There are approximately 8,445 Century Farms and Homes in Wisconsin. The Sesquicentennial Program originated in 1998 as part of the state’s sesquicentennial celebration, and since that time, 685 families have been honored in Wisconsin.

Century and Sesquicentennial Farm awards will be presented during a special program at the Wisconsin State Fair, Aug. 4-14. Honorees will receive complimentary fair admission tickets, an invitation to the awards breakfast sponsored by Hillshire Farms, a commemorative photo, certificate and outdoor display sign provided by Hillshire Farms, a longtime program sponsor. The tentative date for the breakfast program is Aug. 9. Details of the event will be mailed to accepted applicants by mid-June.

To qualify for the award, families are required to provide proof of continuous family ownership for either the last 100 or 150 years. Title of the Century property or Title of the Sesquicentennial property today must reside in a blood relative of the original owner, or a legally adopted child of a descendant. Continuous residence in the state or on the property is not required, but the title to the property must be continuous. An abstract of title is the best evidence of continuous family ownership.

“We currently live in a period of uncertainty and tough economic times, where many people are losing their homes through the foreclosure process,” said Beth Pabst, Register of Deeds for St. Croix County. “Sad moments like this have come and gone many times during the history of this great state where we live. Those families who have been able to fight hard enough to hold on to their farms and homes for over 100 years of continuous ownership deserve this remarkable recognition.”

Applications must be received no later than March 1, 2011. Send to Attn: Jill Albanese, Century Farm Program, Wisconsin State Fair, 640 S. 84th St, West Allis, WI 53214.

Beth Pabst, St. Croix County Register of Deeds, has the application forms available at the Register of Deeds Office at the St. Croix County Government Center in Hudson. For more information call the office at (715) 386-4652.

Tags: saint croix county, history and heritage, communities, agriculture