DES MOINES — More than 500 Iowa families were honored for maintaining ownership of their farms across multiple generations during ceremonies held August 20, 2026, at the Iowa State Fair.
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig and Iowa Farm Bureau Federation President Brent Johnson recognized 514 families with Century or Heritage Farm designations inside the fair’s historic Livestock Pavilion (SEE: Top photo, via Naig’s office).
The honorees included 274 Century Farms, which have remained in the same family for at least 100 years, and a record 240 Heritage Farms, owned by the same family for at least 150 years.
This year’s ceremonies held special significance as the nation celebrates America’s 250th anniversary. The event also marked the 50th anniversary of Iowa’s Century Farm Program and the 20th anniversary of its Heritage Farm Program.
“As we celebrate America’s 250th birthday, we are reminded that the story of American agriculture runs straight through the story of our country,” Naig said.
Naig praised the generations of farm families who have helped feed, fuel, defend and sustain the country while preserving land and agricultural traditions for their descendants.
“There is an intense sense of pride that comes with keeping a farm in the family for 100 or 150 years, and these families represent an incredible legacy of sacrifice, stewardship and progress,” Naig said.
Iowa established the Century Farm Program in 1976 through a partnership between the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation. The program was launched as part of the country’s bicentennial celebration.
Fifty years later, the program returned to the State Fair during another major anniversary in American history.
“Iowa’s Century and Heritage Farms have been foundational in the growth and prosperity of our great state, and it’s an honor to recognize and celebrate their family farm legacies,” Johnson said. “Celebrating this special achievement is a testament to the deep roots and generations of hardworking farm families who continue to move Iowa forward.”
The Heritage Farm Program was added in 2006 to recognize families that have maintained ownership of their farms for at least 150 years. The record 240 Heritage Farm families recognized this year coincided with the program’s 20th anniversary.
Since the two programs began, Iowa has recognized more than 21,000 Century Farms and more than 2,400 Heritage Farms.
Each family honored in 2026 received a certificate and farm sign bearing the America250 seal. Families were also photographed in front of a special backdrop commemorating the country’s 250th anniversary.