Earlier this month, Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Tyler Harper and the Georgia Department of Agriculture recognized 13 Georgia farms as recipients of the Georgia Centennial Farm Award during the 34th Annual Georgia National Fair. The Centennial Farm Program was created in 1993 to recognize historic Georgia farms that have been in continuous operation for over 100 years and is a collaborative effort by the Georgia Department of Agriculture, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, the Georgia Farm Bureau Federation, the Georgia Forestry Commission, the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter, and Georgia EMC.
“As a seventh-generation farmer, I know full well the relentless commitment and unwavering dedication required to keep a generational farm in operation for over 100 years, and I’m proud to congratulate the 13 recipients of this year’s Georgia Centennial Farm Award,” said Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper. “These generational family-farms play an integral role in the success of Georgia’s agriculture industry – we’re grateful for their contributions to Georgia’s rich agricultural history and look forward to continuing to empower Georgia farmers to help ensure their success for generations to come.”
A farm must have been continuously owned and operated by the same family for a minimum of 100 years to be eligible for the Centennial Farm Award, or the farm itself is at least 100 years old and be officially listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Additionally, each farm must be a working farm that has retained a minimum of ten acres of the original family purchase and must generate at least $1,000 annual income.
Recognition is given to farms through one of three awards: The Centennial Heritage Farm Award is dedicated to farms owned by the same family for 100 years or more, and they must be listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The Centennial Farm Award does not require continuous family ownership. However, the farm must be at least 100 years old and listed in the National Register of Historic Places to qualify. The Centennial Family Farm Award recognizes farms owned by the same family for 100 years.
To qualify for an award, the Centennial Farm Committee must receive applications with supporting documentation by May 1st of the award year. Qualifying farms are recognized at the Georgia National Fair in Perry, Georgia, where farm owners receive a Georgia Centennial Farm certificate of honor signed by the governor during the awards presentation.
2023 Centennial Farm Award Winners:
Boggy Branch Farms in Bulloch County – Lynne & Charles Lee
L & M Farms in Bulloch County – Randy & Patricia Morton
Teloga Springs Farm in Chattooga County – John Stubbs III
Stone Family Farm in Cook County – Freddie Stone
Ash Farms in Effingham County – Gerald Ash, Jr.
The Threatte Farm at Bunton Place in Evans County – Greg & Sharon Threatte
Price Family Farm in Franklin County – Brad & Sarah Yuilee
J.B. Gay & Son in Jenkins County – John Gay, Sr.
R.E. Roberts Farm in Jones County – Robert E. Roberts
Ganas Farm in Lanier County – Elizabeth McLaughlin
White Family Barn Farm in Lumpkin County – Johnny White
Rolling D Farms, LLC in Murray County – Randy Dunn, Sr.
Fulghum-Beusee Farms in Wilcox County – Edith Beusse
