HAMILTON, Ohio — The homestead of John and Joan Becker on Taylor School Road in Hamilton has been under the Becker name since 1886. And like so many other Century Farms in this state, the original farmhouse has either been renovated or simply doesn’t exist any more.

The original Becker structure is gone. Tall weeds and countless 19th century artifacts dot the plot where that two-story structure once stood. But many other 100-year-old relics can be found scattered on the grounds of this 180-acre farm. Many more can be found inside the newer Becker home.

“Five generations have worked the soil here and today we still tend to corn, soybeans, wheat and hay,” said John Becker, 72. “My great-great-grandfather was German and he arrived here in the Ohio Valley in 1886. He was a wagon maker by trade.”

The Beckers are one of approximately 950 Century Farms in the state. Ohio Century Farm status is awarded to families who have owned the same farm for at least 100 consecutive years. For the Beckers, that has reached 127 years.

“We have a lot of this farm’s history documented in books from the Butler County Historical Society, as well as our own family documents,” John said.

Like other Ohio Century Farms owners, the Beckers have their assortment of antique photographs and yellowed pages out of history books. John’s memory has captured most of this history from days with his grandfather.

“My dad and his dad had a threshing ring,” John said. “They’d go from one neighboring farm to the next, helping each owner with their crops. I have a lot of memories of those two men and the work they did and how they did it.”

Documents indicate John’s great-great-grandfather, John Peter Becker, was among the first farmers to become established in Butler County. He first made residence in Liberty Township, near West Chester, before moving to this farm in 1886.

“There was a lot of history associated with this farm in those days,” John said. “We’ve found many arrowheads in this area, and a trail used by Wells Fargo (which operated the Pony Express at the time) is now a paved road just a mile from the house. There’s even an Indian burial mound on an adjacent farm.”

John’s grandfather, John Randolph Becker, ran the farm in the early 1900s and relinquished ownership to John’s father, Clifford.

Reminders of the past are at every turn. Antique tractors fill several old barns on the premise. An old water pump stands tall behind another barn. Even an early-1930’s outhouse stands in near-perfect form and a 100-year-old brooder house has withstood the test of time. A 1920’s barn and silo are slowly deteriorating a hundred yards from the newer house.

Inside the Becker farm are other reminders of days gone by, things such as pristine roll-top desks, an antique wall tree, old marble-top furniture, a 1910 metal baby buggy, a 100-year-old secretary and much more.

With two sons (Jeff and Kenny) and six grandchildren, John and Joan are certain to pass the farm to subsequent generations. And just to make sure, the farm is part of the Three Valley Easement Trust, preserving its agricultural heritage.

“This will always be a farm,” Joan said.

To commemorate this impressive milestone, each family receives a special certificate signed by the Ohio governor and the director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture, to keep with their historic documents and pass down to future generations.

For more information about the Century Farm program, go to www.agri. ohio.govivs/cent_farms or call 614-752-9817.