By DAVE BLOWER JR.
Farm World Editor INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Sometimes, even when there’s work still to be done, farmers need to take time to reflect on the years of struggle, joy and pain that comes with life on a farm. When your home is also your workplace, it can be difficult to carve out that time.
At least, that’s why Lee and Marylou Giesting of Franklin County, Ind. didn’t get around to applying for the Hoosier Homestead award any sooner. The Hoosier Homestead program honors farms that have remained in the same family for more than 100 years. The Giesting farmstead was first eligible to apply for this distinction in 1981.
“We wanted to do it for a long time,” Marylou explained with a jovial smile, “but we milk cows. So, we didn’t get around to it.”
Nevertheless, the Giestings are already thinking about the future. “We’re hoping the state will have a special award for 200 years because our grandson will be 70 when the farm would be eligible for that one,” Marylou added.
The oldest farm honored this year belongs to the Glentzer-Habegger family of Jay County. The farm has been tied to Ethelyn Glentzer’s clan since 1846.
“I think we were invited by the state to some sort of award ceremony 50 years ago around our 100th anniversary, but I’ve forgotten,” Ethelyn said. “Eight generations of my family have been on this farm east of Portland in Noble Township. Our grandsons are the eighth generation on the farm.”
Her husband, Joe, added, “I’ve only farmed it 50 years ... although a lot of things have changed in those 50 years.”
Glentzer said the size of the farm has changed, and they once had a dairy on the property, but it’s mostly a grain operation today. Still, they enjoy the lifestyle and taking in local events such as the annual Antique Engine and Tractor Show in Portland.
“We exhibit our vintage John Deere A tractor there,” Joe said. “It’s the one I used in 1949.”
Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman, who handed out the awards along with Indiana Ag Director Joe Kelsay, said the Hoosier Homestead program is among the perks of her job.
“For me, it is a pleasure to see those Hoosier Homestead signs as I travel around the state,” Skillman said. “I want to thank you, our partners in progress, for moving our state forward – even in this tough economy.
“It is always my honor to present these awards and meet these hard-working farm families. These families are the reason Indiana has high-quality, affordable food for every Hoosier, every day.”
The following lists the families, home counties and initial year for the farms honored during this year’s ceremony:
•Adams County, Bieberich/Bultemeier, 1909
•Allen County, Bultemeier, 1909
•Carroll County, Dillman Farm, 1909
•Carroll County, George & Elizabeth Downham, 1910
•Cass County, Morrow, 1906
•Clay County, Michael & Mary Nussel, 1889
•Daviess County, Stuckey, 1909
•Dearborn County, Meyer, 1901
•Decatur County, Hoban, 1900
•Franklin County, Gehring, 1859
•Franklin County, Giesting, 1881
•Franklin County, Kerr, 1903
•Greene County, Barker, 1849
•Greene County, Stantz & Terrell, 1892
•Hamilton County, Fouch-Macy-Stewart, 1897
•Hamilton County, Miller-Durr, 1908
•Hamilton County, Tescher-Noggle, 1901
•Harrison County, Adams, 1906
•Harrison County, Beckort, 1870
•Harrison County, Hottell, 1865
•Jay County, Neil & Margared Glentzer Habegger, 1846
•Kosciusko County, Vandermark, Summy, Rose, 1864
•Lake County, Stephan-Pattee, 1892
•Lawrence County, Sherwood-Connelly, 1853
•Miami County, Kercher, 1910
•Ohio County, Dennis, 1868
•Pulaski County, Kain, 1906
•Putnam County, Stringer, 1910
•Ripley County, Hosmer, 1910
•Tippecanoe County, Bauer-Davisson, 1908
•Tipton County, Francis E. Letsinger, 1886
•Tipton County, Matthew & Jane E. Letsinger, 1885
•Switzerland County, Archer, 1865
•White County, Cooper, 1895 |
