Century Farm and Ranch Program

Is Your Farm or Ranch 100 Years Old or More?

In 1937, New York State Agricultural Society began officially recognizing Century Farms and Ranches. In 1976, the United States Bicentennial, several states initiated the Century Farm and Ranch program and today 43 states participate in recognizing family farms and ranches that have reached this milestone. 

The Idaho Century Farm and Ranch program, a partnership of the Department of Agriculture and the Idaho State Historical Society, was created to recognize the importance and extraordinary contributions of Idaho’s farming and ranching pioneers by honoring those families who have farmed or ranched the same land their ancestors did 100 years ago, and at least 40 acres of the original parcel of land is still maintained as part of the present holding. Since the program began (1990), over 450 farms and ranches statewide have been designated Idaho Century Farms or Ranches by the Idaho Department of Agriculture and the Idaho State Historical Society.

Every Idaho farm and ranch has a history and family story. Through the stories of families and communities people discover their place in time. These stories of achievement (setting up homesteads), courage (enduring forces of mother nature) and passion (perusing the love of the land) have shaped people’s personal values, identities, and their sense of place that guides them through life. The Century Farm and Ranch program encourages families to share their stories of their century long connections to farming, ranching and Idaho’s land.

Agriculture has been the heart of Idaho, it is diverse, abundant, and rooted in the state’s history. In 1920 there were approximately 42,106 farms* in Idaho, today there are over 24,500 farm* and ranches in Idaho, producing more than 185 commodities. During the 1950s Idaho’s farms decreased in number and increased in size. The average acreage per farm in the 20’s was approximately 198 today it is approximately 468 acres. Idaho agriculture remains a fundamentally important part of Idaho’s economy, communities and way of life.