century-farmsThe Missouri Century Farms program – a joint effort of the University of Missouri and the Missouri Farm Bureau – recently released “Missouri’s Historic Farms”. This is the first book ever published that honors the families and farms that comprise this unique group.

More than 7,500 farms throughout Missouri have applied for membership in this exclusive club that require members of the same family to own and farm a property for 100 years or more. With its strong agricultural heritage, Missouri is fortunate to have so many eligible farms. This new book tells the stories of more than 1000 Century Farms and the families who love them.

We are pleased that a property in the Katy Land Trust, the Burkhardt family farm in Warren County, is featured in the book. They describe the history of their farm – Bethlehem Valley – and how it has been protected from future development by a conservation agreement. While not a Century Farm, Bethlehem Valley is an example of how landowners can ensure that their property will be a farm for the next century with a conservation easement.

To order “Missouri’s Century Farms”, or to learn more about the Century Farms program or conservation easements, please contact Peggy Horner (Phone: 314-920-0038; Email: pahorner@orlt.org)