Arkansas Century Farm program adds 30 new farms

Gov. Asa Hutchinson and Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward recently took part as the Arkansas Department of Agriculture inducted 30 additional Arkansas farms into the Arkansas Century Farm program.

The Arkansas Century Farm program recognizes Arkansas farms of 10 acres or more owned by the same family for at least 100 years. The Arkansas Department of Agriculture began the Century Farm program in 2012 to highlight the contributions of these families to the agriculture industry as well as their overall contributions to our state.

Agriculture is Arkansas’ largest industry, contributing more than $21 billion to the state’s economy annually and providing more than 269,000 jobs, one of every six jobs, in the state. Arkansas consistently ranks in the top 25 nationally in the production of more than 15 agricultural commodities.

“Year after year, decade after decade, and in the face of many challenges, Century Farm families go out and put everything on the line to earn a living and produce our food, our fabrics, our timber,” Gov. Hutchinson said. “Farm families are great for our economy, and they also are part of the fabric of our state. They imbue our state with the same common sense and solid values that are the bedrock of their family farm. For the good of Arkansas, I hope their children and grandchildren choose to continue the family farm, and that someday, Arkansas will create a Two-Century Farm Family program.”

About 494 farms are currently recognized as Arkansas Century Farms throughout the state. The 30 newly inducted Century Farms are located in the following 23 counties: Arkansas, Bradley, Cleburne, Columbia, Conway, Craighead, Drew, Faulkner, Franklin, Fulton, Howard, Independence, Jackson, Lincoln, Logan, Ouachita, Perry, Scott, Searcy, Sharp, Washington, White and Woodruff.

Find a complete list of all Arkansas Century Farms here.