Since 1976, the Century Farms Program, under the stewardship of the Iowa Department of Agriculture, has recognized families who have maintained their family-owned farms for 100 years or more. Becky Lorenz, the program coordinator since 2010, has worked tirelessly to recognize these Century Farms as well as families who have maintained their farms for 150 years or more—distinguished as “Heritage Farms” by the program.

And with the annual awards held at the Iowa State Fair, families like Brady Smith’s come together to celebrate the dedication they have had to Iowa, to their communities, and to the land.

We took some time to chat with Lorenz and Smith—a sixth-generation farmer of the 155-year-old Smith Farms in Emerson—about the program and the enormous contribution these families make to the Iowa community.

What does this distinction mean for these families and their communities?

Lorenz: I think it’s just recognition of their hard work. They are very proud that they have been very able to keep the farms going through all that’s thrown at them. They are just honored that they can still do that. A lot of these people are the backbone of their communities because they have been there so long. A lot of the smaller towns rely on [them].

What is the best part of being recognized at the Iowa State Fair?

Smith: I think the neatest part of the awards program is it provides a reason to have all the generations together. That’s almost as rewarding, [to see] how much the award means to each and every generation with an honor like that. You rarely get that in anything else; it’s a neat opportunity.

Why did you decide to take on your family’s farm?

Smith: I had a good job with benefits and everything else, but the tradition and carrying on the family legacy on the farm mean the world to me. The sustainability, I think it says a lot for our family. Through the ups and downs of the farm economy, to be able to sustain that family farm and grow it to where it’s at now—I take a lot of pride in that.

It really did mean the world to [Grandma], that we had the opportunity to [pass the farm on]. We lost Grandpa in 2009 and since I started farming she constantly reminds me how Grandpa would be proud of me. So it really does mean the world to her. She’s really more proud at having the next generation on the farm.

Do you expect to see the tradition of passing on the farm continue?

Smith: I’m sixth generation, [but] I don’t know that any of us had set-in-stone plans to make it happen. Through the generations the pride is just passed down inherently without having to be stated. If there’s a chance for it to [continue], I’ll take the proper routes I can to give [my daughter] the opportunity, if that’s what she wants to pursue.

It’s instilled in extended family, that we want to try to continue the legacy of the family farm whether we’re actively farming it or not. I’d love to see it get to being in our family in 200 years, for sure, and hopefully much longer. But for shorter term goals, that would be a good one.

Why honor these families?

Lorenz: These families are very proud that they have kept farms in their families through thick and thin, through weather and economic hard times, good times, and they are very proud. It’s very special for them.

We are in the heartland of America and we need our food supply. I think it’s an important thing that we honor the people that supply our food and doing all the hard work for keeping that family farm together.

How have you/these families managed to sustain the farms?

Lorenz: I don’t know [how they do it]. I think they get it in their blood and they want to continue. It really, really surprises me that from generation to generation they can find somebody to continue it on.