Harpers receive Century Award

Agriculture department honors farms which have remained within families for 100-plus years

— The Rex and Shirley Harper Farm of Gentry was among 16 farms located in northwest Arkansas which were awarded for being in the same family for 100 or more years.

The Arkansas Agriculture Department presented Arkansas Century Farm signs and certificates on Dec. 6, in Ozark, at the Franklin County Courthouse, for the qualified farms located in the northwest region of the state.

“The Arkansas Century Farm program is a new program that recognizes Arkansas’ rich agricultural heritage and honors families who have owned and farmed the same land for at least 100 years. The program is voluntary, places no restrictions on the land and does not require a fee,” a release from the Arkansas Dept. of Agriculture states.

According to the release, to qualify, farms have to meet the following criteria: The same family must have owned the farm for 100 years or more by Dec. 31, 2012. The line of ownership from the original settler or buyer may be through children, grandchildren, siblings and nephews or nieces, including through marriageand adoption. The farm must be at least 10 acres of the original land acquisition and make a financial contribution to the overall farm income.

The following northwest Arkansas farms were awarded a sign and certificate at the Dec. 6 ceremonies:

◊Motley Farms of Bentonville in Benton County;

◊Rex and Shirley Harper Farm of Gentry in Benton County;

◊B and W Farms of Harrison in Boone County;

◊Grand Prairie Cattle Company of Charleston in Franklin County;

◊Morgan Farms of Clarksville in Johnson County;

◊Myra Johnston Farm of Coal Hill in Johnson County;

◊Robertson Family Farms of Huntsville inMadison County;

◊Oates Farm of Pottsville in Pope County;

◊Rowlands Farm of Hector in Pope County;

◊W.J. Simmons Farm of Lavaca in Sebastian County;

◊Henbest Farms of Fayetteville in Washington County;

◊William F. Shreve Farm of Fayetteville in Washington County;

◊Crawley Farm ofWest Fork in Washington County;

◊West Farms of Prairie Grove in Washington County;

◊Laney Farm of West Fork in Washington County;

◊Miller Farms of Fayetteville in Washington County.

News, Pages 3 on 12/12/2012