Century Farms Program
Do you come from a long line of proud Stearns County Farmers? Has your farm been passed down through the generations? Would you like to be recognized by the Stearns History Museum’s Century Farm Program?
The Stearns History Museum Century Farm Program was first launched in June of 1978 with the installation of 10 Century Farm markers that declared a farm a Century Farm with the family’s surname and year of establishment. This was inspired by the Minnesota State Fair Century Farm Program as a way to honor and highlight the family farms in Stearns County and their lasting impact on our local history. Over 45 years later the program has recognized more than 500 farms in the county.
The Museum’s Century Farm program bi-annually recognizes the long history of Stearns County farmers as stewards of the land and the tradition of passing down a way of life to family members.
To Qualify:
● You must have continuous family ownership for 100+ years.
● You must own at least 40 acres of the original farmstead.
● The land must currently be used in a manner that constitutes an active farm.
There is no direct cost to an applicant for this program. Applications can be picked up at the front desk of the Stearns History Museum or downloaded online.
If you are a current Century Farm and in need of an updated or replaced sign, please fill out the application below and submit to the museum.
If your family’s farm is eligible or if you have questions, please contact:
Michelle Skroch
Email: shmregistrar@stearns-museum.org
Phone: (320) 253-8424
Century Farms Active in the Program
updated August 2024
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a continuous family relation?
Continuous means the farm cannot be sold to any entity or person outside of family relation otherwise the farm is disqualified. The buyer and seller must also be considered related at the time of the sale. Relationships that occur later are not accepted (ex: great grandchildren marry). Continuous residence is not required.If you have any questions or wonder about unique circumstances please contact the coordinator
Family is interpreted as the following relations: Parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, siblings, aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews, adoption, step-children, marriage, and cousins.
There are restrictions on step children, marriages, and cousins please contact the coordinator for details.
What is an original homestead?
Original homestead is interpreted as the first parcel of land your family owned that you are using to claim century farm status. If this parcel is eventually sold off or reduced to below the 40 acre limit, regardless of the total acreage the family owns elsewhere, the farm is considered inactive.
What is considered an active farm?
The act of farming is described as the activity or business of growing crops and/or raising livestock. This must be done annually with the intent to sell the produce. Renting the land out to farming qualifies. Any further interpretation will fall to the coordinator’s discretion.
When are Century/150 Year signs installed?
Our Century Farm signs are installed twice a year, once in the Spring and once in the Fall. To have your sign installed in the Spring please have your application submitted to the museum by March 1st. To have your sign installed in the Fall please have your application in by August 1st.
What does the sign look like and how is it installed?
Since 2015, the museum has updated the Century Farm signs to metal reflective road signs that are 24 inches wide by 12 inches tall. We no longer offer wooden signs.
The sign is installed by Museum staff on the property that the Century Farm application corresponds to. The sign may not be installed on any other location. If you would like to install the sign yourself on the century farm property please contact the coordinator.
Our farm is old enough to apply but the exact dates of founding the farm are unknown?
That is not a problem. It is very common for applicants to not know the exact year the farm was founded in the family name. So long as you are able to provide an approximate estimate of the founding year and an accurate lineage of how the farm passed through the family the coordinator has the resources to be able to determine the exact date for you.
Our farm turned 150 years old. Can the sign be updated from Century to 150 Year?
Yes, you may update your Century Farm sign to our 150-Year sign if your farm is older than 150 years. To do so please see our Century Farm webpage or reach out to the century farm coordinator to receive an application to apply for an updated sign and 150 years status.
Our farm had a sign but it was damaged. Can it be replaced?
Yes, a sign can be updated/replaced for any currently enrolled and active century farm for the following reasons:
- update from a wooden sign to the current metal ones
- Sign was damaged or has excess wear
- The name or year on the sign is no longer accurate to the farm
- Update from Century to 150-Year sign
These are free of charge to the farms. If requested, staff will also replace the wooden pole.
Our farm changed last names, are we still eligible?
To be considered an active Century Farm the farm does not need to maintain the same surname as the founding family. Many of our farms have passed to daughters. If a farm has passed through multiple surnames it is encouraged, not required, to have more than one surname on your sign as it better reflects the history of the farm and the families that worked the land, which aligns with the original purpose of the program.
The following names are not allowed on the sign: first names, middle names, surnames of families that never owned the farm, and spellings with no current or historical basis.
Other Resources
Looking for More Ways to have your farm recognized? These programs also recognize Century Farms
Please note that the Stearns History Museum does not participate in the operations of these other programs; you must apply to these programs separately. Applying to these programs does not enroll you in the Stearns History Museum Century Farm program.
Catholic Dioceses
Minnesota State Fair Century Farm Sign
Program in Action
