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The 2023 applications for Colorado's Centennial Farms & Ranches program have been opened. Centennial Farms & Ranches program, a joint initiative of History Colorado and the Colorado Department of Agriculture, honors the contributions of the state’s ranching and farming families who have withstood the pressures of growth, changes in farming methods, drought, and economic conditions to preserve important pieces of our state's commercial and cultural history.
In 2022, the Centennial Farms & Ranches program was expanded to recognize four categories of honorees associated with the agricultural history of the State of Colorado:
- Centennial Farms or Ranches – farms or ranches that have belonged to the same family for at least 100 years, and are currently working farms or ranches
- Centennial Families – families with agricultural experience in Colorado that spans 100 or more years (eg. 1923-present), not necessarily as landowners
- Centennial Farmers or Ranchers – individuals 100 years of age or older who have spent a majority of their life in agricultural pursuits within the State of Colorado, even if they were not landowners
- Centennial AgriBusiness – organizations or businesses that have been in operation for 100 or more years and primarily serve the agricultural community in Colorado (examples: seed companies, farm implement manufacturers, Farm Bureaus, etc.)
The expansion of the Centennial Farms and Ranches program allows for a more equitable celebration of the diverse farming and ranching families who sustain the Centennial State. Broadening this program provides a chance to celebrate the contribution and accomplishments of Coloradans who did not historically have the opportunity to own property–whether for economic, political, or discriminatory reasons.
To earn recognition within the Centennial Farms and Ranches Programs, applicants must submit an application and provide verification of eligibility. A complete list of eligibility requirements can be found in the 2023 Centennial Farms & Ranches Application.
Awardees will be honored for their perseverance and resilience through the changing times at the Colorado State Fair, held every August in Pueblo, CO.
The deadline for applications is May 1, 2023. To apply or learn more, please visit h-co.org/CentennialFarms or call (303) 866-3392.
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