Farm Families Honored at Delaware County Fair

Over two dozen farm families were honored at the Delaware County Fair on Wednesday. 

It was part of a new event called the Farm Legacy Ceremony, created to recognize Delaware County families whose farms have been in their families for 100 years and even 150 years – or more. The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Iowa State Fair have been honoring farm families in this way for years now on the state level, presenting the Century Farm Award for 100 years or more and the Heritage Farm Award for 150 years or more. The Delaware County Fair wanted to bring it to a local level, honoring county residents at their own fair – in front of their own friends and neighbors – and recognizing Delaware County’s strong history and commitment to agriculture.

KMCH News Director Janelle Tucker had the opportunity to visit with a few of the recipients on Wednesday. Steve and Mary Sheppard’s farm was among those honored as a Heritage Farm. The Sheppard farm, located in southern Delaware County near Buck Creek, has been in their family for 161 years.

The Bonert Family Farm, raising beef near Hopkinton, was also honored at the Delaware County Fair on Wednesday as a Century Farm. Steve and Ron Bonert both appreciated being recognized on the county level for their farm that’s been in their family for 120 years. 

Don and Rosie Putz were also among the Heritage Farm award recipients. Their farm near Petersburg has been in their family since 1868.

Wednesday’s honorees at the Delaware County Fair’s Farm Legacy Ceremony included:

Heritage Farms (in their family for 150 years or more)

• Walter & Judy Welling’s farm is in the New Wine & Bremen townships. It was first purchased in 1846.
• Allan & Marian Koelker Family Farm is in Bremen Township. It was first purchased in May of 1848.
• Millenkamp Cattle Inc. (Tony Millenkamp & Tom Millenkamp) is in Bremen Township. It was first purchased in 1855.
• The Sheppard Family Farm, owned by Steve & Mary Sheppard, is in the township of Hazel Green. The farm was first purchased in March of 1864.
• James D. Childs’ & Allan H. Childs’ farm located in Delaware Township was first purchased in November of 1866.
• Don A. Preussner Family farm is in Coffins Grove Township. It was first purchased in September of 1867.
• Ralph & Shirley Nefzger & Family’s farm is located in Bremen Township. It was first purchased in December of 1868.
• Donald & Rosalia Putz’s farm is located in Colony Township. It was first purchased in January of 1868.
• Lamont ‘PELLE’ 4-D Acres farm is in South Fork Township. It was first purchased in 1871.
• Schwietert Family Farm, located in Colony Township, was first purchased in October of 1871.
• Thomas & Joyce Pasker’s farm is located in Colony Township. It was first purchased in 1871.
• Kenneth & Shirley Rahe’s farm located in Bremen Township was first purchased in January of 1871.
• Vorwald Family Farm, owned by Mark & Linda Vorwald, is in North Fork Township. The farm was first purchased in May of 1873.
• Keith & Deborah Hunt’s farm is in Bremen Township. The farm was first purchased in September of 1873.
• The Highland Farm, owned by Jim Johnston.

Century Farms (in their family for 100 years or more)

• Floyd & (late) Gwen Sampson’s and Perry & Elaine Sampson’s farm is located in Colony Township. It was first purchased in October of 1876.
• Bernadette Ryan & Family farm located in Hazel Green Township. It was first purchased in 1894.
• Jim & Carol Bandy Family Farm, located in Richland Township, was first purchased in January of 1900.
• Bonert Family Farm is located in Hopkinton and was first purchased in 1905.
• Don & Ken Burns’ farm located in Coffins Grove Township, was first purchased in March of 1910.
• James Freiburger farm 
• The Drummy Family Farm is located in Hazel Green Township. It was first purchased in March of 1911.
• Donald & Janice Bildstein’s farm is located in Bremen Township. It was first purchased in November of 1912.
• Maurice G Kirkwood Trust farm is located in South Fork Township. It was first purchased in October of 1914.
• Dan & Pat Doyle Family farm is located in Delaware Township. It was first purchased in March of 1920.
• Chris & Tammy Eibey’s farm is located in Coffins Grove Township. It was first purchased in February of 1921.
• D & D Lansing Family Trust farm is located in Colony Township. It was first purchased in February of 1924.
• Daryl & Rosalyn Nurre’s farm is located in Bremen Township. It was first purchased in February of 1924.
• Brock & Marc & Becca Hermann’s family farm, located in Honey Creek & Delaware Townships, was first purchased in March of 1924.

Below are the photos of the Delaware County Fair’s Heritage and Century Farm Award recipients who were present for Wednesday’s ceremony.

The Delaware County Fair says they plan to make the Farm Legacy Ceremony a new tradition, honoring the county’s farm families in some capacity every year.

photos courtesy of Janelle Tucker/KMCH

Farm families, if you’d like your photo emailed to you, we’re happy to share! Please email Janelle at janellet@coloffmedia.com.