Two Franklin Co. Farms Recognized With Hoosier Homestead Awards

Laker and Coffey Farms have been in operation for 100 or more years.

Shutterstock photo.

(Indianapolis, Ind.) – Two Franklin County farms have been recognized with Hoosier Homestead Awards.

Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch and Indiana State Department of Agriculture Director Bruce Kettler presented 51 Hoosier Homestead Awards on March 5.

To be named a Hoosier Homestead, farms must be owned by the same family for more than 100 consecutive years, and consist of 20 acres or more, or produce more than $1,000 in agricultural products per year.

Families are eligible for three different distinctions of the Hoosier Homestead Award, based on the age of the farm. They can receive the Centennial Award for 100 years, Sesquicentennial Award for 150 years or Bicentennial Award for 200 years of ownership. 

Local recipients include:

• Coffey Farm, Franklin County, 1918, Centennial
• Laker Farm, Franklin County, 1856, Centennial and Sesquicentennial

Kehl Farm in Rush County was also recognized for being in operation since 1845.

Since the program's inception in 1976, more than 5,800 families have received the award.

Local legislators issued the following statements regarding the Hoosier Homesteads.

State Rep. Randy Lyness (R-West Harrison):

 "Farming is an important aspect of Indiana's rich history and economy. It takes hard work and dedication to maintain a family farm for several years, let alone a century. Indiana's agriculture is thriving and in a strong place because of these families."

State Rep. Cindy Ziemke (R-Batesville):

"Owning a farm for over 100 years is an impressive achievement that deserves to be recognized and celebrated. Hoosier family farms serve as the foundation of Indiana's agricultural history, and they continue to play a vital role in the success of our economy."

State Senator Jean Leising (R-Oldenburg)

"With more than 56,000 farming operations in Indiana, it is farms like these that make Indiana the eighth-largest agricultural exporter and tenth-largest farming state in the nation. I commend our award recipients for their historic accomplishments and for all they do to better Indiana and our local communities."

For more information on the Hoosier Homestead Awards, visit Longstanding farm families presented Hoosier Homestead Awards - State of Indiana.