On Wednesday, August 13, at the Indiana State Fair, 95 farming families were recognized with the Hoosier Homestead Award for their long-standing contributions to Indiana agriculture. The awards were presented by Lt. Governor Micah Beckwith and Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) Director Don Lamb.
To qualify as a Hoosier Homestead, farms must remain in the same family for more than 100 consecutive years and be at least 20 acres in size, or, if smaller, generate more than $1,000 annually in agricultural products. Eligible farms may receive one of three honors: the Centennial Award for 100 years, the Sesquicentennial Award for 150 years, or the Bicentennial Award for 200 years of continuous ownership.
Since the program’s creation in 1976, more than 6,200 farms have earned this recognition, with many proudly displaying their award signs on their properties.
During this year’s ceremony, eight farms were honored with the Bicentennial Award for 200 years of family ownership, including farms in Decatur, Gibson, Montgomery, Putnam, Rush, and Switzerland counties.
Local area farms honored during the summer 2025 ceremony include:
Daviess County:
Fuhrman 1909 – Centennial Award
Dubois County:
Hochgesang 1905 – Centennial Award
Neukam 1913 – Centennial Award
Verkamp 1871 – Centennial & Sesquicentennial Awards
Perry County:
Epple 1907 – Centennial Award
Hanloh I Boerste I LaGrange 1858 – Centennial & Sesquicentennial Awards
Pike County:
Meyer 1895 – Centennial Award
Spencer County:
Hurm 1915 – Centennial Award
The Hoosier Homestead Award program continues to honor the dedication, perseverance, and generational commitment that define Indiana’s farming heritage.
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