Governor John Hickenlooper declares August 26, 2011 Colorado Centennial Farms Day

Pueblo, Colo.—Eighteen Colorado families who have owned and operated their farm or ranch for 100 years or more will be recognized during the 25th Annual Centennial Farms Celebration on Friday, Aug. 26 at 4 p.m., on the Pepsi Stage in Family Park at the Colorado State Fair, Pueblo, Colo. In honor of the event, Governor John Hickenlooper has proclaimed August 26 as “Colorado Centennial Farms Day.” Honorees will receive a certificate signed by the Governor and other state officials, as well as a sign to display on their property.

Ed Nichols, President and CEO of History Colorado, the Colorado Historical Society and John Salazar, Colorado Commissioner of Agriculture, will make acknowledgements and present awards to family representatives.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation recognizes families who have demonstrated stewardship of their historic agricultural sites by maintaining four or more structures on their property that have survived for 50 years with a Historic Structures Award, and 12 of the 18 families will be recognized for this distinction.

2011 Colorado Centennial Farm Awardees:

Farm/Ranch Name          Year Settled   Town, County

The Centennial Farms Program started in 1986. It is sponsored by History Colorado, the Colorado Historical Society; the Colorado Department of Agriculture; the Colorado State Fair; and the National Trust for Historic Preservation. This year History Colorado is honored to announce that the BARN/BarnMedia will be this year’s official radio partner for the Centennial Farms Program. As part of this partnership BARN/BarnMedia will have live coverage of the event at historycolorado.org/archaeologists/centennial-farms.

The awards honor Colorado’s families who have maintained ownership of their land for more than a century in spite of the economic challenges that face modern farming. At the ceremony, a brief history of each farm is presented, including stories of prosperity and hardship. Family representatives are available for interviews at a reception following the ceremony.

“These long-standing farm and ranch families play an integral role in preserving important aspects of Colorado’s history,” said Nichols. “In spite of the pressures of growth, changes in farming methods, drought, and economic conditions, these families have maintained their way of life while many historic barns and other agricultural sites around the nation are disappearing at an alarming rate.”

For more information about the Centennial Farms Program or to receive an application and brochure, please call the State Historical Fund at 303/866-2825.

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The State Historical Fund, a program of History Colorado, the Colorado Historical Society, awards grants to public and non-profit organizations to preserve Colorado’s architectural and archaeological treasures for public benefit. The State Historical Fund receives funds for grants through a portion of tax revenues from limited-stakes gaming in the towns of Cripple Creek, Central City, and Black Hawk. State Historical Fund grants have helped preserve hundreds of historic schools, town halls, agricultural sites and other important resources in all 64 Colorado counties since 1993. For more information about History Colorado and its programs, visit www.HistoryColorado.org or call 303-HISTORY.