135 Win Hoosier Homestead Awards
Published: Friday, September 11, 2026
On Aug. 19 at the Indiana State Fair, Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith and Indiana State Department of Agriculture Director Don Lamb presented 135 farming families with a Hoosier Homestead Award in recognition of their commitment to Indiana agriculture.
"Indiana's heritage is built on agriculture," said Beckwith, secretary of agriculture and rural development. "It's an honor to celebrate these farming families and the generations of hard work that got them here."
To be named a Hoosier Homestead, farms must be owned by the same family for more than 100 consecutive years and consist of more than 20 acres. If less than 20 acres, the farm must produce more than $1,000 of agricultural products per year. Indiana farms may qualify for three honors: Centennial Award for 100 years of ownership, Sesquicentennial Award for 150 years of ownership and the Bicentennial Award for 200 years of ownership.
Since the program's inception in 1976, over 6,400 families have received the Hoosier Homestead Award. Often, a Hoosier Homestead farm is easily recognized as most recipients proudly display their awarded sign on their property.
"Each of our Hoosier Homestead farms carries the same legacy, built by one generation for the next," said Lamb. "My own farm still has a while to go before it's eligible for this award, so I know firsthand the commitment and dedication it reflects. Congratulations and thank you to each Hoosier Homestead recipient for your dedication to Indiana agriculture."
During the ceremonies, five Indiana farms received the Bicentennial Award for 200 years of continuous ownership: the McClure family from Fountain county, the Stewart family from Johnson county, the Crooks family from Parke county, the Allyn family from Posey county and the Wheeler family from Vanderburgh county.
Over 40 awards were presented to area farmers. In northeast Indiana, sesquicentennial farm awards (by family name) include: Griebel of Allen County, established in 1845; Hart of Allen County, established in 1874; Springer of Allen County, established in 1875; Stoops of DeKalb County, established in 1875; Yoder of LaGrange County, established in 1875; Peffer of Noble County, established in 1876; and Robert Lee Schinbeckler of Whitley County, established in 1876.
Centennial farms include: Springer of Allen County, established in 1875; Springer of Allen County, established in 1911; Myers of LaGrange County, established in 1926; Beers of Noble County, established in 1915; and Hass of Noble County, established in 1887.
In north central Indiana, sesquicentennial farms include: Douglass of Fulton County, established in 1845; Wagoner-Kline of Fulton County, established in 1876; Stiffler of Kosciusko County, established in 1868; Crist of Pulaski County, established in 1876; Frantz-Stout of Wabash County, established in 1861; and Goebel of Wabash County, established in 1851.
Centennial farms include: Heiny-Liming of Cass County, established in 1926; Jump of Cass County, established in 1913; Wade of Cass County, established in 1916; Burdge of Fulton County, established in 1920; Hahn of Marshall County, established in 1897; Watkins of Marshall County, established in 1873; Farrell (Stout-Frantz) of Wabash County, established in 1898; Frantz-Stout of Wabash County, established in 1861; Goebel of Wabash County, established in 1851; and Stout of Wabash County, established in 1881.
In northwest Indiana, sesquicentennial farms include: Rosenthal of Lake County, established in 1869, and Hardesty of Porter County, established in 1853.
Centennial farms include: Nowatzke-Cavin of LaPorte County, established in 1922; Hardesty of Porter County, established in 1853; Pope of Porter County, established in 1924; Pumroy of Porter County, established in 1919; Reif-Miller of Porter County, established in 1924; and Yerk of White County, established in 1919.
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