I am happy to congratulate the Ries family from Posey County for receiving the Hoosier Homestead Award. The awards were presented by Lt. Gov. Sue Ellspermann and Agriculture Director Gina Sheets at the Indiana State Fair this week.
Hoosier agriculture is the backbone of our state. Family farms bring not only economic stability to Indiana, but also a tradition and sense of what makes a community great. I want to applaud the Ries farm for their accomplishment and wish them the best of luck in continuing to represent our community’s wonderful agriculture heritage.
The Hoosier Homestead Award Program recognizes families with farms that have been owned by the same family for 100 years or more. Fifty-four Centennial awards were given for 100 years of ownership, 15 Sesquicentennial awards recognized 150 years and three Bicentennial awards for operating at least 200 years in the Hoosier state.
The Ries Farm, located in Mount Vernon, Ind., began in 1862. The Ries farm received the Sesquicentennial award.
The program began in 1976 to acknowledge the contributions these families have made to Indiana agriculture. More than 5,000 farms have been recognized since the program was established .
