History of Century Farm Families

In 1970, the North Carolina State Fair undertook the largest agricultural project in its history to highlight the theme of its 1970 State Fair, “Salute to Agriculture,” by initiating a search for all families who owned a farm in North Carolina for 100 years or more.

More than 800 farms submitted applications to be recognized as a Century Farm that year and were honored at a luncheon held in Dorton Arena at the 1970 N.C. State Fair. Agriculture Commissioner Jim Graham emceed the event and Lt. Gov. Pat Taylor was the featured speaker. Commissioner Graham congratulated the families for their contributions to North Carolina, saying “The strength and depth of North Carolina lies with you people who have held the family farm together. You are the fountain head of our economy.”

In 1975, Century Farm Families were honored again at a luncheon held in the Kerr Scott building. More than 750 Century Farm families attended the event. Thus began the tradition of honoring Century Farm Families during the State Fair.

Century Farms continue to be recognized in North Carolina. In 1988, with the support of RJ Reynolds Tobacco Company, the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services published a commemorative book, North Carolina Century Farms: 100 Years of Continuous Agricultural Heritage. This book provided a history of century farms in North Carolina. Every Century Farm Family received a copy.

The 2000 Reunion was held in Dorton Arena and the keynote speaker was U.S. Congressman Bob Etheridge.  The 2008 Reunion was held in Dorton Arena and featured entertainment from The Wells Family and comments from Senator Elizabeth Dole. 

At the 2016 reunion, Commissioner Troxler announced the creation of the Bicentennial Farms Program. This program honors Century Farms that reach this milestone with a certificate and Bicentennial Farm sign. Since then, 134 farm families have been recognized as Bicentennial Farms.

In 2020, the Century Farm Program celebrated it’s 50th anniversary. The reunion was rescheduled to 2021 due to the cancellation of the State Fair due to the Covid pandemic. 

The 2021 reunion was held at the Hunt Horse Complex and featured North Carolina-based group The Chatham Rabbits and speaker Ray Starling, executive advisor for the NC Chamber, president of the NC Chamber Legal Institute and former chief of staff to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue. 

Today, there are about 50,000 farms in North Carolina, but only 1,982 have the distinct honor of being a Century Farm. 

As the Century Farm program continues, Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler hopes more farms reach 100 years or more of continuous family ownership and are recognized as Century Farms. Some farms date back to colonial times, others have just reached their century mark, but all are equally important to North Carolina’s agricultural heritage. 
 

These families show the greatest commitment to farming in North Carolina.
 

The next reunion is slated for the 2024 N.C. State Fair. 

Occasionally we highlight individual Century Farm Families on our In the Field Blog. Check them out at spotlight on Century Farms link: https://blog.ncagr.gov/category/century-farm-family-program/