Area Century/Heritage Farms Honored at the 2023 Iowa State Fair

DES MOINES - Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation President Brent Johnson and Iowa Farm Bureau Federation Vice President Brian Feldpausch honored 398 Iowa farm families with Century or Heritage Farm designations at the Iowa State Fair. 

The program celebrates farms that have been owned by the same families for 100 and 150 years, respectively.

In Howard County, the Kostohryz family farm was honored as a “Heritage Farm” this year, while the Rance Family Farm was named a “Century Farm.”

This is a large accomplishment as there are only 12 Heritage Farms in Howard County, with the oldest dating back to 1856. 

This year, 242 Century Farms and 156 Heritage Farms were recognized. To date, more than 21,000 Century Farms and 1,800 Heritage Farms have been recognized across the state of Iowa. The Century Farm program began in 1976 as part of the Nation’s Bicentennial Celebration. The Heritage Farm program began in 2006.

“Achieving a Century or Heritage Farm milestone is a source of immense pride for an Iowa farm family,” noted Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig upon introducing the many milestone farms in Iowa at the Fair. “It’s important that we honor these generational families for the positive impact they have made on Iowa agriculture and acknowledge their resiliency, dedication, commitment and hard work.”

Naig pointed out that the The Century and Heritage Farm Program recognizes Iowa’s deep tradition of family farming.

“Having the opportunity to congratulate each of the families, hear their inspiring stories, and celebrate their remarkable accomplishments makes this event one of my favorite of the entire year,” added Naig. 

Brent Johnson, Iowa Farm Bureau President also added, “The legacy of Iowa’s Century and Heritage Farm families isn’t something that just happens, but instead requires generations of personal sacrifice, decades of stewardship and a longstanding dedication to local community. It's an honor to recognize the work ethic, tenacity and commitment to sustainability of these farm families, and Iowa is a better state because of them.”

• A huge milestone was reached by the Larry Kostohryz family at the Iowa State Fair recently. Located in the township of New Oregon, the family farm was recently named a “Heritage Farm” after reaching 150 years of being family owned.

The farm has remained 200 acres since May of 1873 where great grandfather John Kostohryz purchased the acreage, later handed down/purchased by Frank Kostohryz, Sr. and then Frank Kostohryz, Jr. and now owned by Larry and Cindy Kostohryz.  The farm is located at 24573 170th Street, with a Cresco address. 

• Reaching 110 years as a family owned Century Farm is the Rance Family Farm, currently owned by Darla Rance of Cresco.  The land is located in Saratoga Township at 115th St. and March Ave. with a Lime Spring’s address.  

The nearly 160 acre farm was first purchased in February of 1913 by Mike Ranc (a great Grandfather in-law) and later owed by Charles Ranc (Darla’s Grandfather in-law).  It was then passed down/purchased by Raymond Charles Rance (father in-law) and then by Raymond Richard Rance (husband) and now by Darla Rance.  

The orginal cost per acre was $40.00, which was pretty substantial back then.