Teams of horses and equipment with Carl and Harold Westesen in the foreground, 1912.

Preserve

Centennial Farms & Ranches

Across the nation, family farms and ranches, historic barns and other agricultural sites are disappearing at an alarming rate.  The contributions of Colorado's ranching and farming families have withstood the pressures of growth, changes in farming methods, drought, and economic conditions to preserve these important pieces of our state's commercial and cultural history.

Program Details

The Centennial Farms & Ranches program, presented by History Colorado and the Colorado Department of Agriculture, recognizes four categories of honorees associated with the agricultural history of the State of Colorado.

Centennial Farms or Ranches

  • The farm or ranch has belonged to the same family for at least 100 years; and
  • The farm or ranch is currently a working farm or ranch

Centennial Families

  • A family with agricultural experience in Colorado that spans 100 years or more (eg. 1922-2022), not necessarily as landowners

Centennial Farmer or Rancher

  • An individual 100 years of age or older who has spent a majority of their life in agricultural pursuits within the State of Colorado, not necessarily a landowner

Centennial AgriBusiness

  • An organization or business that has been in operation for 100 or more years and primarily serves the agricultural community in Colorado (examples: seed companies, farm implements, Farm Bureau, etc.)

2022 Honorees

History Colorado and the Colorado Department of Agriculture were thrilled to recognize the 2022 Centennial Farms & Ranches honorees at this year's State Fair in Pueblo:

Koeller Farm of Kiowa County, 1921

Blake Ranch LLC of Routt County, 1905

Schmeeckle Farm of Weld County, 1910

Dorenkamp and Harper Ranches of Prowers County, 1920

Johnson Reephook Ranch of Mesa County, 1900

Hirakata Family of Otero County, 1915

Vermillion Farms of Elbert County, 1914

Curtis Ranch LLP of Morgan County, 1907

Colorado Farm Bureau Federation, headquartered in Arapahoe County, 1919

Sonnenberg Farms of Logan County, 1919

 

In addition, we were pleased to celebrate the recognition of our first Agricultural Legacy Award Recipients:

Commissioner of Agriculture's Legacy in Agriculture Award: In Memory of Robert Sakata

State Historic Preservation Officer's Agricultural Legacy Award: The Living Culture and Practice of Acequia Communities and the Sangre de Cristo Acequia Association

 

Click here for photographs from the 2022 Centennial Farms & Ranches celebration.

How do I Apply?

To apply for Colorado Centennial Farms and Ranches designation, family or business representatives should submit an application providing information about their agricultural history.

Application forms should be mailed to the Office of Archaeology & Historic Preservation, or emailed to the Centennial Farms and Ranches Coordinator by the next deadline, which is May 1, 2023.

For more information about the Colorado Centennial Farms and Ranches program or to receive a paper application, please contact the Centennial Farms and Ranches Coordinator using the information below.

You can download the 2023 application here:

Centennial Farms & Ranches Application - 2023