Stoddard County family receives Century Farm designation

“We wanted this as a way to honor our grandparents,” observes Bob Aslin of Bloomfield. “Our family and where we come from are very important to us. It’s a legacy we are proud of.”

On July 30 the Ernest and Eva Aslin Family Farm was recognized as a Missouri Century Farm, in a presentation held during the Stoddard County University of Missouri Extension Council meeting.

In making the presentation, Kristi Baker, County Engagement Specialist in 4H Youth Development for Stoddard County remarked, “It is an honor to present this award to the Aslin Family in recognition of 100 years in family farming.”

According to Aslin, to qualify for a Century Farm designation, three criteria must be met: The same family must have owned the farm for 100 consecutive years; the line of ownership from the original settler or buyer may be through blood lines, marriage, or adoption; and the present farm must contain no less than 40 acres of the original land, and must make a financial contribution to the overall farm income.

The Aslin farm operation includes the original 60 acres that belonged to Ernest Aslin.

The University of Missouri Extension website explains that the Century Farm program actually began as the Centenial Farm Project in 1976. The program was updated ten years later and the name was changed to Century Farm program.

The website goes on to say that since its inception, 9,614 Missouri family farms have been designated as Century Farms. At least 100 farms are recognized annually, and in 2018 180 farms were awarded the title.

Missouri University Extension; Missouri University College of Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources; and Missouri Farm Bureau jointly sponsor the Missouri Century Farm program.