Northey encourages Century and Heritage farm owners to apply - KTIV News 4 Sioux City IA: News, Weather and Sports

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey encouraged eligible farm owners to apply for the 2013 Century and Heritage Farm Program. The program is sponsored by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the Iowa Farm Bureau and recognizes families that have owned their farm for 100 years in the case of Century Farms and 150 years for the Heritage Farms.

"These awards are an opportunity to recognize the hard work and commitment by these families that is necessary to keep a farm in the same family for 100 years or 150 years," Northey said. "If you consider all the challenges and unexpected obstacles each of them would have had to overcome during their life on the farm, it gives you a greater appreciation of the dedication and perseverance of each of the families being recognized."

Applications are available on the Department's website by clicking on the Century Farm or Heritage Farm link under "Hot Topics."

Applications may also be requested from Becky Lorenz, Coordinator of the Century and Heritage Farm Program via phone at 515-581-3645, email at Becky.Lorenz@IowaAgriculutre.gov or by writing to Century of Heritage Farms Program, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, Henry A. Wallace building, 502 E. 9th St., Des Moines, IA 50319.