A local family received the Hoosier Homestead Centennial Award, which recognizes farms that have remained in the same family for more than 100 years.
The Suhre-O’Connor Farm in Bartholomew County was among 46 honored at the Indiana State Fair.
Albert O’Connor, 44, represents the fourth generation not only to live on the Suhre-O’Connor land, but to farm it as well. His great-grandfather Fred Suhre purchased the land in 1909.
Fred Suhre’s granddaughter, Linda O’Connor, who grew up on the farm, did much of the legwork to apply for the award, working with both the county recorder’s office and the county auditor to verify the transfer of land through the family.
“It was very nice to be honored,” she said.
Today, Albert O’Connor lives in the farm’s 125-year-old home with his wife, Kim, and their three children, where they farm corn and soybeans and raise cattle. One of those cattle, a Simmental heifer raised and shown by daughter Kylie, 16, won reserve grand champion at the 4-H show this week.
Award recipients were given a certificate and a large plaque to display on the farm by Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman and Agriculture Director Joe Kelsay.
In addition to the Centennial awards, 29 Sesquicentennial awards were given for 150 years of family ownership. Since the award was created in 1976, more than 5,000 farms have been recognized.
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