Wednesday, August 9, 2000

COLUMBUS — Lt. Gov. Maureen O'Connor today recognized the achievements and tenacity of eight Ohio farm families at a ceremony at the Ohio State Fair. The eight families were recognized as Ohio’s Outstanding Century Farm Families for the year 2000 – an annual recognition given to productive farms held in the same family for the past 100 years or more. One of the families will be chosen as the statewide winner to be announced at the Farm Science Review in September.

"I commend the eight outstanding century farm families for their perseverance," said Lt. Governor Maureen O’Connor. "The agrarian way of life is not always an easy one to maintain, and for more than 100 years they have nurtured their agricultural roots, helping to provide us with food and many other things important to our way of life."

The Outstanding Century Farm Awards Program, now in its eighth year, is a joint project of the Ohio Department of Agriculture, the Ohio Historical Society, and Ohio’s Country Journal. Winners are chosen for their commitment to preserving their heritage, their contribution to the agriculture community, and their environmental stewardship.

"These families have been chosen from hundreds of applicants and represent our state’s exceptional century farms," said Ohio Agriculture Director Fred L. Dailey. "We are proud to honor these families today for their devotion to the industry and for maintaining their agricultural traditions."

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For more information contact Deborah Abbott or Deb Wilson, ODA Communications, at 614-752-9817, or Tim Reeves, Ohio’s Country Journal, at 614-481-6000.