Two local farm families received the Hoosier Homestead Award

Recognized for their families’ long-standing commitment to agriculture, 103 Indiana farm families received the Hoosier Homestead Award at the Indiana State Fair from Indiana State Department of Agriculture Director Don Lamb.

Locally, two families received recognition:

• The Honnold-Muir family of Hamilton County received the Centennial Award (1902).
• The Meyncke family of Tipton County received the Centennial Award (1924).

The Meyncke family of Tipton County received a Hoosier Homestead Awards. (Photo courtesy of Indiana State Department of Agriculture)

“The Hoosier Homestead Ceremony at the Indiana State Fair is a prestigious event for everyone involved,” said Lt. Gov. Crouch, who is also the Indiana Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development. “It is a true honor to celebrate these families for their work and commitment to improving Indiana agriculture.”

To be called 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.

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

“Keeping a farm running for 100 years or more is something these families can be proud of,” Lamb said. “Each of the award-winning family farms continues to adapt and evolve through each new generation on the farm to ensure their success.”

Since the program began in 1976, nearly 6,200 families have received the award. A Hoosier Homestead farm is often easy to recognize, as most grantees proudly display their award-winning sign on their property.