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.

2023 Centennial Farms & Ranches Honorees

We were proud to honor 25 Centennial Farms & Ranches families, individuals, and agribusinesses at this year's Centennial Farms & Ranches celebration at the Colorado State Fair! We also recognized the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe Farm & Ranch Enterprise and the Families of The Dry with Agricultural Legacy Awards from the Colorado Commissioner of Agriculture and the Colorado State Historic Preservation Officer.

Click here for the full list of 2023 Centennial Farms & Ranches Honorees.

Click here for photos from the celebration at this year's Colorado State Fair.

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.)

How do I apply?

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

Application forms should be emailed to the Centennial Farms & Ranches Coordinator, or mailed to the Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, by the next deadline: May 1, 2024.

The 2024 Centennial Farms & Ranches application will be available in January. Please email hc_shpo@state.co.us with any questions.

 

 

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