The B/K Ranch celebrates 100 years of ownership by the Balsick family this year. The ranch got its start in 1891 when Mike and Mary Balsick homesteaded 160 acres near Calhan. The ranch has grown to include over 2100 acres and is currently used for raising cattle and growing wheat.  Raymond and Louise Balsick's son Adam now operates the ranch. The B/K Ranch is also receiving a special historic structures award for having preserved several structures  dating back to as early as the turn of the century. 

The Ralph R. Allen & Sons ranch encompasses over 3200 acres of prime pasture and grazing land spread out along the Gothic Road between Gunnison to up above Crested Butte. It got started in 1890 when John M. and Lucinda Allen purchased 160 acres from the original homesteader. The ranch grew under the ownership of Ralph R. and Janet Allen and is now operated by their sons and daughters-in-law: Ralph and Anne, David and Betty, and Curtis and Helen. The Allen Ranch is also being given a special historic award for its historic buildings, including a barn dating to 1890.

The 700 acre farm owned by Thomas and Dorene Keele can be found near Meeker. It had its beginnings in 1888 when 80 acres were homesteaded by Dorene's grandfather, Thomas H. Warren. He passed the land down to his daughter, Katherine who married Ralph Rector; they, in turn, passed it on to their daughter, Dorene. Although hay is grown, much of the acreage is held as rangeland for cattle and sheep. A log cabin dating to the 1880's still stands on the land.

The Jose Urbano Vigil Ranch, located 20 miles west of Trinidad in Vigil, is another of Colorado's oldest centennial farms. Dating to 1869, it was established by Marcus S. Vigil. Alfalfa, apples, potatoes, peaches and other vegetables were grown; and sheep, goats and cattle were raised. After Marcus Vigil's death in 1901, his son, Jose Urbano Vigil, took over operations. Still standing are two historic houses and barns dating to the late 1860s and early 1870s.

The Ortega Farm in San Luis is Colorado's oldest centennial farm. It was originally granted to Praxedes Vigil Ortega in 1851 and has remained in the Ortega family ever since. The farm is now operated by Praxedes Ortega's great grandson, A. Prax Ortega, Jr. The farms major crops are alfalfa and oats, with part of the land being used for permanent pasture.

In 1880 Robert Bruce Montgomery paid $1200 for 80 acres located between Longmont and Lyons. During its early years, the Montgomery Farm grew sugar beets, corn, wheat, oats, barley, alfalfa as well as garden produce. The farm is now run by Robert's grandson , Donald E. Montgomery, who raises cattle and horses as well as a crop of hay. The farm retains several historic structures, including the original 1880 house.

The Moll Bauernhof (meaning Moll Farm in German) was homesteaded by Wendolin Moll, grandfather of the current owner, Frank E. Gould. Wendolin, who was from German speaking Switzerland, settled on this 160 acre homestead near Boulder in 1881. Although crops were grown on a portion of the land during the early years, it was found to be better suited to irrigated pasture land on which beef cattle are raised.

The Mayhoffer Farm near Lafayette was homesteaded in 1870 by David Kerr. In the farm's early days the Kerrs sold milk and butter in Central City, and even sold coal mining rights. The farm was passed on to David Kerr's daughter, Leannah, who married John Mayhoffer. Their grandchildren, John, David and Robert Mayhoffer now own and operate the farm raising corn, beans and hay. There are several historic structures still in use on the farm including the beautiful main farmhouse dating to 1889.

The Mack Family Ranch dates to 1883, when John Mack settled on the first homestead in the valley where Craig later came into existence. John Mack came to this country from Germany when he was 15 years old  to escape the German army draft. After trying his luck in Central City and Black Hawk, and after having worked on the railroads, Mack settled on his 160 acre homestead on the Yampa River. Today the ranch is run by John's grandson, Billy E. Mack and his wife Barbara. The ranch retains several historic structures including an original log barn dating to 1883.

The Madison Farm near Longmont is another of our farms celebrating its centennial this year. It had its beginnings when James Madison purchased 80 acres of irrigated land near Longmont from Robert Stevens. Back then cows, horses, hogs, chickens and turkeys were raised, along with the crops, which included wheat, corn, alfalfa, sugar beets, barley and oats. Today the main crops are corn, oats and alfalfa.