Yet another centennial is being celebrated by the descendants of Fritz Niemayer who homesteaded 160 acres in Weld County in 1888. By 1896 Fritz had acquired an entire section on land. Three years later he registered his brand, FN with the Colorado brand board. Fritz's great grandson James W. Park still retains the registry on the brand. Today he grows corn and alfalfa for feed.

John C. Rich is the third generation of the Rich family to own the over 2000 acre ranch in Walden known as the North Park Registered Herefords Ranch. John's grandfather Clayton Rich senior was born in Wisconsin in 1868 and came to North Park at age 15. In 1887, he became partner in the present ranch.

The Nelson Family is also celebrating the 100th year of their farm in Monte Vista. John Nelson purchased the 160 acres in 1888. He built the house, barn, shop, shed and granary which are still standing. Crops raised on the farm have included potatoes, oats, barley, wheat and hay. Today cattle are the main product.

This year marks the centennial for the Milne Farm outside Lucerne in Weld County. James Milne purchased the 160 acres in 1888 from ex-senator Captain David Boyd, a prominent Greeley pioneer. Sugar beets and potatoes were among the early crops to be grown here. A fine brick late Victorian home constructed in 1892 still is in use today.

At 11:40 am on May 14, 1877 Mathew L McCaslin paid $1100 to Lydia Downs for 74 acres on the Upper St. Varin outside of Longmont. Mathew was born in Pennsylvania in 1822 and had joined the Califonia gold rush in 1847 and was lured to Denver in 1858 by gold fever. He turned from mining to ranching with the purchase  of what is now the McCaslin Farm.

Three generations of the Marlman family have lived on this farm and all three generations have raised their families in the original stone house which still stands. Located in Las Animas, the Marlman Farm was founded by William F. Marlman who came to Bent County in the 1880's to help build the Fort Lyon Canal. In 1888, he purchased the farm which still bears his name and celebrates its centennial this year.

The Macht Ranch in Pagosa Springs was homesteaded in 1883 and grew over the years through the purchase of neighboring homesteads. The cattle brand was applied for in 1892 and is still in use today. Harry Macht, of the second generation to own the ranch, was appointed the first National Forest Ranger in the San Juan National Forest in 1911.

The Linke Ranch in Grand County was homesteaded in 1883 by Emil and Sophie Linke. Their grandson Eddie now runs the ranch which produces cattle and hay. The oldest building on the ranch is a log barn which was built in around 1890 and is no longer in use.

The Knudsen Farm in Sterling dates back to 1885 when Beldsar and Elleonora Knudsen acquired the property. At the time Sterling was still part of Weld County. The Knudsens had nine children all of whom were born and raised on this irrigated farm. Today corn, sugar beets, beans and alfalfa are grown on the property.

The Knight/Bankston Ranch dates to 1879 when Henry Knight preempted 160 acres in the Disappointment Valley in Dolores County. The original log cabin that he built in 1881 still stands as do numerous other buildings constructed in the 1880's. Henry built ditches on the ranch as well and acquired the first water decree from Disappointment Creek in 1883.