INDIANAPOLIS - At the Indiana Statehouse Friday, Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith and Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) Director Don Lamb presented 56 farming families with a Hoosier Homestead Award in recognition of their commitment to Indiana agriculture.
"Agriculture has always served as the foundation of Indiana's economy and way of life," said Beckwith, secretary of agriculture and rural development. "It was a privilege to celebrate these longstanding farming families for their enduring legacies during today's ceremony."
To be named a Hoosier Homestead, farms must be owned by the same family for more than 100 consecutive years and consist of more than 20 acres. If less than 20 acres, the farm must produce more than $1,000 of agricultural products per year. Indiana farms may qualify for three honors: Centennial Award for 100 years of ownership, Sesquicentennial Award for 150 years of ownership and the Bicentennial Award for 200 years of ownership.
Since the program's inception in 1976, over 6,200 families have received the Hoosier Homestead Award. Often, a Hoosier Homestead farm is easily recognized because most recipients display their awarded sign on their property.
“Each year I look forward to honoring these long-standing farming families during the Hoosier Homestead ceremonies," said Lamb. "I know firsthand the amount of hard work, and grit required to ensure a family remains in the same family for 100 years or more. I commend each of this year’s awardees and thank them for their dedication to Indiana and our agriculture industry."
Local Hoosier Homestead Award recipients honored during the spring 2025 ceremony: Fulton County, Guise, 1924, Centennial; Fulton County, Struckman-Smith-Shriver, 1864, Centennial and Sesquicentennial; Kosciusko County, E & M Hollar, 1919, Centennial; Marshall County, Clindaniel/Clauss, 1919, Centennial.