Bressler Farms received a Missouri Century Farm sign at the Atchison County Fair. Pictured, from left to right, are: front row – Devon Sons, Eliza Mason, Amelia Mason, Beth Bressler, Eric Bressler, Joni Bressler, LoryAnne Daugherty, Kinleigh Daugherty, and Cooper Daugherty; and back row – Lane Mason, Dwane Bressler, and Mike Daugherty.
Three Missouri Century Farm signs were presented at the Atchison County Fair. Pictured, from left to right, are: Nick Kean, Lori Whelan-Kean, Allie Kean, Matt Whelan, Donna Whelan, Tim Whelan, Tony Harris, Theresa Harris, Annie Wakefield, and Devon Sons.
Five Atchison County farms have been inducted into the Missouri Century Farm Club this year. Miles Smith, chair of the University of Missouri Atchison County Extension Council, and Devon Sons, vice chair of the University of Missouri Atchison County Extension Council, presented the certificates during the Atchison County Fair.
The Bressler family of Bressler Farms, Rock Port, owns 85 qualifying acres that John G. Cooper, Dwane Bressler’s great-grandfather, acquired in 1920.
Anna (Whelan) Wakefield owns 77 acres that were originally owned by Timothy Andrew Whelan, her great-grandfather. The land was acquired in 1885.
The Whelan & Harris Family Farm, Watson, consists of 65 acres of land acquired in 1908 by Clara M. Fischer, great-grandmother of Timothy R. Whelan and Theresa Harris.
The Whelan Family Farm, also in Watson owns 179 acres originally owned by Timothy Andrew Whelan, great-grandfather, and Clara M. Fischer, great-grandmother, of Timothy R. Whelan, Anna (Whelan) Wakefield, and Theresa (Whelan) Wakefield. The land was acquired in 1875.
Jay and Stephanie (Sly) Smith own 75 qualifying acres that were acquired by Stephanie’s great-grandparents, Henry O. and Basha D. Sly, in 1923.
In 1976, Missouri’s Centennial Farm project awarded certificates to persons owning farms that had been in the same family for 100 years or more. The MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources and MU Extension planned a 10-year update in 1986 called the Century Farm program. Since then, the program has been an annual event, recognizing more than 100 farms each year.
In 2008, the Missouri Farm Bureau became a program co-sponsor. “Missouri Farm Bureau is a proud partner in the recognition of century farms,” said Blake Hurst, president of Missouri Farm Bureau. “We applaud the hard-working farm families that have kept us fed and clothed for generations. They represent an important part of our heritage and laid a foundation for the bounty Americans enjoy every day.”
To qualify, farms must meet the following criteria:
• The same family must have owned the farm for 100 consecutive years.
• The line of ownership from the original settler or buyer may be through children, grandchildren, siblings, and nephews or nieces, including through marriage or adoption.
• The farm must be at least 40 acres of the original land acquisition and make a financial contribution to the overall farm income.
Since 1976, the program has recognized more than 8,000 Missouri Century Farms. There are 148 Missouri Century Farms in Atchison County. For more information, visit the program’s webpage at https://extension2.missouri.edu/programs/century-farms.
