Welcome to the News section

Please join us in celebrating the wonderful agricultural heritage we have in Oregon.

Newly Released Oral History Recordings:

Newly released Oral histories from our 2018 & 2019 families can be found in the Honorees section of this website.  These are oral recordings that are currently being transcribed.  The transcriptions will be posted once complete.

For Immediate Release

August 22, 2022

 Media Information Contact:

Andréa Kuenzi, Program Coordinator

503-400-7884 or cfr@oregonfb.org

Oregon Century Farm & Ranch Program Awards Century Status to 9 Farms & Ranches in 2022 & holds ceremony at Oregon State Fair (Salem, OR) –

Five farms and ranches will be honored this year as Century Farms or Ranches and Four will be awarded the Sesquicentennial (150 year award) they are from eight different Oregon Counties, including Deschutes county that now has its first recognized Century Farm.  This brings the total number of Oregon Century Farms and Ranches to 1,252 & Sesquicentennial to 51.   The 2022 families will also be honored at this year’s awards ceremony at the Oregon State Fair on Saturday August 27, 2022. 

Please read their narratives here

Awards Century Status to 8 Farms & Ranches and 1 Sesquicentennial Farm in 2020

(Salem, OR) – July 16, 2020

Eight farms and ranches will be honored this yearas Century Farms or Ranches and one farm reached Sesquicentennial status from 7 different Oregon Counties, bringing the total number of Oregon Century Farms and Ranches to 1,235 & Sesquicentennial to 47.

Please read the Family narratives here

The Century Farm and Ranch families being honored in 2020 are:

Blackman Ranch:  Founded in Klamath County in 1919 by Thomas Walter Blackman.  Applicant is Rodney & Virginia Blackman

Marx Farm:  Founded in Polk County in 1920 by Julius & Luise Marx.  Applicant is Merle Marx

Paysinger Family Farm:  Founded in Yamhill County in 1920 by George & Lizzie Shelburne.  Applicant is David and Theresa Paysinger

Starvation Farms:  Founded in Morrow County in 1918 by Chris Moehnke. Applicant is Chris and Kathy Rauch

Roy Family Farm:  Founded in Yamhill County in 1920 by Alfred Luke Roy.  Applicant is Carol A. Roy

Ward Ranches: Founded in Baker County in 1919 by Levi ‘Clyde’ Ward. Applicants are Craig, Mark, Kathy, & Ralph Ward

JW Ranch:  Founded in Marion County in 1920 by John Calahan.  Applicant is John W. Wells

Fir Villa Farm: Founded in Polk County in 1911 by Solomon S. and Susan Ediger.  Applicants are Melvin & Esther Ediger

The Sesquicentennial Award program began in 2008 in honor of Oregon’s 150^thbirthday celebration.  Sesquicentennial awardsrecognize Oregon familieswho havecontinuously farmed portions of their original family acreage for 150 years or more. Forty-seven (47)families have now received this prestigious sesquicentennial award.

This year’s family being honored is:

Cooper Family Orchards: Founded in Wasco County in 1870 by Robert & Mary Cooper.  Applicant is David Cooper

Every Oregon farm and ranch has a unique history and special family story.The Oregon Century Farm & Ranch program encourages agriculture families to share, with a broader audience, these stories. By promoting family stories, rich cultural heritage is passed down to future generations while educating Oregonians about the social and economic impact of Oregon agriculture.

The Oregon Century Farm & Ranch Program began in 1958 to honor farm and ranch families with century-long connections to the land. To qualify for a century or sesquicentennial award, interested families must follow a formal application process.Members of the Application Review Committee review each application against the qualifications, which include continuous family operation of the farm or ranch; a gross income from farm use of not less than $1,000 per year for at least three years out of five prior to application; and family members must live on or actively manage the farm or ranch activities. Application documentation may include photos, original deeds, personal stories, or other historic records. These records help support Oregon’s agricultural history by providing valuable information about settlement patterns or statistics on livestock and crop cycles. All documents are archived for public access.

Award winners receive a certificate signed by the Governor and Director of the Oregon Department of Agriculture. Historic roadside signs are imprinted with the founder’s name and the year the ranch or farm was established.

The Oregon Century Farm & Ranch Program is administered by the Oregon Agricultural Education Foundation. It is supported by a partnership among the Oregon Farm Bureau, the State Historic Preservation Office,OSU University Archives,  and by generous donations of Oregonians.  For information about the Oregon Century Farm & Ranch Program, contact Andréa Kuenzi, Program Coordinator, at 503-400-7884 or cfr@oregonfb.org. The application deadline for 2021 is May 1.

Please watch in the coming weeks for narratives of each family.  Due to COVID-19 restrictions we are unable to hold a live awards ceremony as usual at the Oregon State Fair so these families will be honored at next year’s ceremony with the 2021 families.

NEWS RELEASE
August 27, 2019

Oregon Century Farm & Ranch Program Awards Century Status to 15 Farms & Ranches and 5 Sesquicentennial Farms & Ranches

Media Information Contact: Andréa Kuenzi, Program Coordinator, 503-400-7884 or cfr@oregonfb.org

See the 2019 family narratives here

(Salem, OR – At an annual awards ceremony on Aug. 24 at the Oregon State Fair, families from 15 counties received recognition for operating as a Century or Sesquicentennial (150-year) Farm or Ranch.

Fifteen farms and ranches were honored this year as Century Farms or Ranches and five farms reached Sesquicentennial status, bringing the total number of Oregon Century Farms and Ranches to 1,227 and Sesquicentennial to 46.

The Century Farm and Ranch families being honored in 2019 are: 

> Schrepel Family:  Founded in Washington County in 1919 by Oliver Schrepel. Applicant is Mark & Schrepel

> Saunders Ranch: Founded in Baker County in 1915 by George G.B. Saunders.  Applicant is Walter S. Saunders Jr.

> Box T Ranch: Founded in Grant County in 1915 by John & Margaret Masson.  Applicant is Roger and Meredith Ediger

> Phillips Pioneer Farm:  Founded in Polk County in 1894 by E.C. Keyt & George Washington Myer.  Applicant is Kathryn Phillps

>Wilfred Hamann Farm:  Founded in Union County in 1918 by Arthur Hamann.  Applicant is Wilfred Hamann

> Klann Farms: Founded in Jefferson County in 1905 by Seth Leulling.  Applicant is Klann Farms- The Klann Family (Seth Klann)

> Kaser Family Farm: Founded in Wasco County in 1913 by Julius Kaser.  Applicant is Phillip Kaser

> Ellett’s Green Ridge Tree Farm:  Founded in Wasco County in 1919 by C.E. & Iva Belden.  Applicant is Fritz Ellett

> 27 Bar Ranch:  Founded in Jefferson County in 1917 by William (Bill) Nartz in 1917.  Applicant is James Nartz

> Doz Ag LLC: Founded in Marion County in 1919 by John & Regina Dozler.  Applicants are Marty & Amy Dozler

> Fletcher Family Farm: Founded in Hood River County in 1919 by Leonard & May Fletcher.  Applicant is Jill L. House

> Gingerich Farms: Founded in Clackamas County in 1919 by Fred & Katie Gingerich.  Applicant is Richard L. Gingerich

> Cremer Farm:  Founded in Marion County in 1904 by Frank & Catherine Cremer.  Applicant is John Beitel

> Hewitt’s Greenwood Gardens: Founded in Polk County in 1919 by Guy Glenn (G.G.) Hewitt.  Applicant is Brian Hewitt

> Neuschwander Farm: Founded in Linn County in 1919 by Emry P & Lydia Neuschwander. Applicants are Noel & MaryAnn Neuschwander

The Sesquicentennial Award program began in 2008 in honor of Oregon’s 150th birthday celebration.  Sesquicentennial awards recognize Oregon families who have continuously farmed portions of their original family acreage for 150 years or more. Forty-six (46) families have now received this prestigious sesquicentennial award.

This year’s Sesquicentennial honorees are:

> Thompson Farm:  Founded in Marion County in 1868 by Alexander Thompson.  Applicant is Tim Thompson

> Heller Century Farm:  Founded in Coos County in 1869 by Louis Heller.  Applicants are Russ and Debbie Heller

> Charlton Farm:  Founded in Multnomah County in 1848 by Joseph and Mary Charlton.  Applicant is Betsy Charlton Powell

> Ingle Butte Ranches:  Founded in Grant County in 1867 by W.D. Ingle.  Applicant is Kim Lemmons

> Nusbaum Farms LLC: Founded in Benton County in 1869 by George Humphrey.  Applicant is H. Frank Nusbaum

Every Oregon farm and ranch has a unique history and special family story. The Oregon Century Farm & Ranch program encourages agriculture families to share, with a broader audience, these stories. By promoting family stories, rich cultural heritage is passed down to future generations while educating Oregonians about the social and economic impact of Oregon agriculture.

The Oregon Century Farm & Ranch Program began in 1958 to honor farm and ranch families with century-long connections to the land. To qualify for a century or sesquicentennial award, interested families must follow a formal application process. Members of the Application Review Committee review each application against the qualifications, which include continuous family operation of the farm or ranch; a gross income from farm use of not less than $1,000 per year for at least three years out of five prior to application; and family members must live on or actively manage the farm or ranch activities. Application documentation may include photos, original deeds, personal stories, or other historic records. These records help support Oregon’s agricultural history by providing valuable information about settlement patterns or statistics on livestock and crop cycles. All documents are archived for public access.

Award winners receive a certificate signed by the Governor and Director of the Oregon Department of Agriculture. Historic roadside signs are imprinted with the founder’s name and the year the ranch or farm was established.

The Oregon Century Farm & Ranch Program is administered by the Oregon Farm Bureau Foundation for Education.  It is supported by a partnership among the Oregon Farm Bureau, the State Historic Preservation Office, OSU University Archives,  and by generous donations of Oregonians.

For information about the Oregon Century Farm & Ranch Program, contact Andréa Kuenzi, Program Coordinator, at 503-400-7884 or cfr@oregonfb.org.

The application deadline for 2020 is May 1.

August 2018

Media Information Contact: Andréa Kuenzi, Program Coordinator, 503-400-7884 or cfr@oregonfb.org

Oregon Century Farm & Ranch Program

Awards Century Status to 12 Farms & Ranches and 2 Sesquicentennial Farms & Ranches in 2018

See the 2018 Narratives here

(Salem, OR) – At the annual awards ceremony at the Oregon State Fair, families from across the state will receive recognition for operating as Century or Sesquicentennial (150-year) Farm or Ranch.  The 2018 ceremony will be held on Saturday, August 25, 2018, at 11:00 am at the Oregon State Fair.  The public recognition ceremony and awards celebration will be held in the Picnic Grove Area.   Please join us for this special event that celebrates Oregon’s agricultural heritage.

Twelve farms and ranches from eight different counties will be honored this year as Century Farms or Ranches and two farms reached Sesquicentennial status, bringing the total number of Oregon Century Farms and Ranches to 1,212 & Sesquicentennial to 41.

The Century Farm and Ranch families being honored in 2018 are:

J.G. Kuenzi Farm, H.M.K., 1917-Lyle and Nelson Kuenzi, Kuenzi Brothers Farms, LLC

Watts Ranch, 1910- James C. Watts

Brown Farm, 1912-Chris E. Brown

Wilsonview Dairy Inc., 1918– Don, Desi, Derrick, & Kaycee Josi

Henry W. Jones Farm, 1918-Steve & Gretchen Jones Select Seed Promised LLC

Howard Ranch, 1884–Richard & Dorothy Howard Allstott

Rockwell-Doherty, 1906-Richard Doherty Brand X Ranch LLC

Tilla-Bay Farms, Inc., 1918–Bart, Terry, & Kurt Mizee

DeLano Farms, 1916– Karen & Sharon DeLano; Renata Squier,

Sandoz Farm, 1880-Ted Sandoz

The Beitel Farm, 1915-John Beitel

Tideman Johnson Farm,1880-Steve Johnson

The Sesquicentennial Award program began in 2008 in honor of Oregon’s 150^th birthday celebration.  Sesquicentennial awards recognize Oregon families who have continuously farmed

portions of their original family acreage for 150 years or more. Forty-one families have now received this prestigious sesquicentennial award.

 This year’s families being honored are:

Mullen Farms, 1852- Gerald P. & Kathleen A.; James H. & Nadine L. Mullen

Robinson, Stillwell, Taggart Farm, 1844-John & Lois Taggart

Every Oregon farm and ranch has a unique history and special family story. The Oregon Century Farm & Ranch program encourages agriculture families to share, with a broader audience, these stories. By promoting family stories, rich cultural heritage is passed down to future generations while educating Oregonians about the social and economic impact of Oregon agriculture.

The Oregon Century Farm & Ranch Program began in 1958 to honor farm and ranch families with century-long connections to the land. To qualify for a century or sesquicentennial award, interested families must follow a formal application process. Members of the Application Review Committee review each application against the qualifications, which include continuous family operation of the farm or ranch; a gross income from farm use of not less than $1,000 per year for at least three years out of five prior to application; and family members must live on or actively manage the farm or ranch activities. Application documentation may include photos, original deeds, personal stories, or other historic records. These records help support Oregon’s agricultural history by providing valuable information about settlement patterns or statistics on livestock and crop cycles. All documents are archived for public access.

Award winners receive a certificate signed by the Governor and Director of the Oregon Department of Agriculture. Historic roadside signs are imprinted with the founder’s name and the year the ranch or farm was established.

The Oregon Century Farm & Ranch Program is administered by the Oregon Farm Bureau Foundation for Education.  It is supported by a partnership among the Oregon Farm Bureau, the

State Historic Preservation Office, OSU University Archives,  and by generous donations of Oregonians.  For information about the Oregon Century Farm & Ranch Program, contact Andréa Kuenzi, Program Coordinator, at 503-400-7884 or cfr@oregonfb.org.  The application deadline for 2019 is May 1.