If your farm has been in the family for more than 100 or 150 years, now is the time to start gathering documentation to prove that lineage.
Jeremy Schoenike, Waupaca County Register of Deeds, says his office safeguards key land and vital records, including birth, death, and marriage certificates, that can help families apply for the Century or Sesquicentennial Farm and Home Award Program.
Schoenike says the best-case scenario is that a farm still has an abstract or other original documents. But even if that isn’t available, the Register of Deeds preserves real estate records that show titles and transactions in family members’ names.
Families will also need to explain the relationship between owners and demonstrate continuous family ownership when applying through the Wisconsin State Fair. The applications open after the first of the year, with a deadline a few months later.
The Century Farm Awards Program began in 1948 during Wisconsin’s Centennial Celebration and now recognizes more than 10,000 family farms across the state. The Sesquicentennial Program was added in 1998 as part of the state’s 150th anniversary and has since honored over 1,000 properties. Both programs salute the families who have maintained their land for generations, with recognition taking place each year at the Wisconsin State Fair.
You can also join in celebrating these farms by exploring the Century and Sesquicentennial Farm features online, where you’ll hear interviews with the Mid-West Farm Report: https://www.midwestfarmreport.com/wisconsin-century-sesquicentennial-farm-salute-2025/
