FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 22, 2021
Oregon Century Farm & Ranch Program Seeking Applications for 2021 Century & Sesquicentennial Awards
The Oregon Century Farm & Ranch Program is seeking applications for its 2021 awards cycle. Families throughout Oregon who have continuously farmed portions of their family acreage for the past 100 or 150 years are invited to apply.
The program began in 1958 to honor farm and ranch families with century-long connections to the land. To qualify for a century or sesquicentennial award, interested families must follow a formal application process.
Farmers and ranchers can find the application and program guidelines at http://www.centuryfarm.oregonfb.org, or by contacting Andréa Kuenzi at 503-400-7884 or cfr@oregonfb.org.
The application deadline is May 1, 2021.
Successful applicants receive a personalized certificate with acknowledgment by the Governor and the director of the Oregon Department of Agriculture, and a durable metal roadside sign to identify the family’s farm or ranch as having historic Century or Sesquicentennial status. Each family will be honored during a special ceremony and reception at the Oregon State Fair.
Every Oregon farm and ranch has a unique history and special family story. The Oregon Century Farm & Ranch program encourages agriculture families to share these stories of century-long connections with a broader audience. By promoting family stories, rich cultural heritage is passed down to future generations while educating Oregonians about the social and economic impact of Oregon agriculture.
To date, 1,235 families have formally received the Century designation and 47 families have received the Sesquicentennial Award.
The Oregon Century Farm & Ranch Program is administered by the Oregon Agricultural Education Foundation. It is supported by a partnership between the Oregon Farm Bureau, the State Historic Preservation Office, Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, Oregon State University Libraries’ Special Collections & Archives Research Center, the Oregon Department of Agriculture, and by generous donations of Oregonians.
For information about the Oregon Century Farm & Ranch Program, contact Andréa Kuenzi Program Coordinator, at 503-400-7884 or cfr@oregonfb.org.
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Guest opinion piece for National Ag Week
Dear Editors,
Please accept this guest opinion piece I wrote recognizing National Ag Week, March 21-27.
It is 500 words. My photo is attached.
Sincerely,
Anne Marie Moss
Communications Director
Oregon Farm Bureau
ie@oregonfb.org">annemarie@oregonfb.org
503.399.1701
In honor of National Ag Week, March 21-27, I’d like to share a few things I’ve learned while working for Oregon Farm Bureau since 2004.
1. There’s room for and a need for all types of farming.
Organic, conventional, biotech, no-tech, small-scale, mid-size, commercial-scale, direct-to-consumer, contract for food processors, international exports — all can be found in Oregon and all have an important, vital place in agriculture.
The myth that one type of farming is “good” and another is “bad,” and therefore should be pitted against each other is just plain untrue.
I know farms in Oregon that grow organic crops on one field, conventional crops on another, and biotech crops, like GMO alfalfa or sugar beets for seed, on a third. Other farms stick to just one farming method.
Farmers decide what to do based on many factors, including their customer base, market potential, the farm’s location, the crop’s labor requirements, and equipment available.
2. Big doesn’t mean bad.
The size of a farm or ranch does not dictate its commitment to a healthy environment, care for animals, treatment of employees, or respect for neighbors.
A farmer with 2,000 acres cares as much about these things as does a farmer with 20 acres. Their day-to-day work may be different, but their values and integrity are shared.
Nearly 97% of Oregon’s farms and ranches – including commercial-scale farms -- are family-owned and operated. Some are “corporate farms” that incorporated for tax purposes or succession-plan reasons. These are run by families, people raising kids, often living on the farm, who are involved in their communities and are proud of what they do. They’re not in the business of harming their customers, their neighbors, or themselves.
3. Part of sustainability is profitability.
Because eating food is such a personal act, there’s a tendency for consumers to forget that the people growing their food are also running a business. Even the smallest farms must ultimately make a profit to survive.
Few people get into agriculture to get rich quick. It often involves slim profit margins at the mercy of many uncontrollable factors like weather, pests, fluctuating commodity prices, and rising supply costs.
This is compounded by the fact that almost every realm of public policy, from transportation to taxes, directly impacts agriculture. When regulations bring new fees or compliance costs, it’s very difficult for most farmers to pass along those expenditures to their customers.
4. There’s no such thing as a “simple farmer.”
Farmers do more than raise crops or take care of animals. Farmers are also businessowners, accountants, scientists, meteorologists, mechanics, and marketers. Many are also eager innovators, always searching for new technology to help them produce more with less: less water, less fertilizer, less fuel, fewer pesticides.
5. There’s more that unites agriculture than divides it.
No matter the amount of acreage worked, farming method used, or number of animals raised, Oregon farmers and ranchers share core values: a deep love for the land, incredible work ethic, and immense pride in their work.
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