Century and Sesquicentennial Farm Program

Presented by Hillshire Farm and Compeer Financial

The Century Farm Awards Program began in 1948 in conjunction with the State of Wisconsin’s Centennial Celebration.

There are currently nearly 10,000 Century Farms nestled throughout the Badger State.

The Sesquicentennial Program similarly originated in 1998 as part of the State’s Sesquicentennial Celebration and has since honored over 980 properties.

Century and Sesquicentennial Farm Awards Breakfast Ceremony

2022 Award Recipient Fun Facts

Century Farms Honorees

In 2022, we honor 84 properties across the state of Wisconsin with the Century Farm Award for 100 years of continuous family ownership.

These properties are located in 42 of Wisconsin’s 72 counties.

Sesquicentennial Honorees

In 2022, we honor 41 properties across the state of Wisconsin with the Sesquicentennial Farm Award for 150 years of continuous family ownership.

These properties are located in 27 of Wisconsin’s 72 counties.

Average Number of Generations

On average, properties that receive the Century Farm Award have been in the family for 3-5 generations.

Properties that received the Sesquicentennial Farm Award have been in the family for an average of 5-6 generations.

Types of Farming

Many of the properties that receive the Century and Sesquicentennial Farm Award are still actively farming.

In 2022, the most common types of farming occurring on these properties was Crops, Beef Cattle, and Dairy Cattle.

Honoree Stories

Our friends at Midwest Farm Report interviewed a number of Century and Sesquicentennial Program Honorees this summer.

Check out the audio clips from their radio program highlighting these families!

Listen to Interviews from Midwest Farm Report

Overall Program Fun Facts

Honorees Since Program Inception

Since the start of the Century Farm Program in 1948, including this year’s honorees, 9,901 properties across the state have received the award.

Since the start of the Sesquicentennial Farm Program in 1998 honoring 150 years of continuous family ownership, 1,023 properties have received the award.

Across Wisconsin

Properties in 70 of Wisconsin’s 72 counties have been honored with the Century Farm Award since the program first started in 1948.

Since 1998, properties in 56 of the state’s 72 counties have received the Sesquicentennial Farm Award.

Counties with Most Century Farms

Since the Century Farm Award was first given out 1948, the following counties have the most properties to receive the award:

  1. Dane County – 418 properties
  2. Dodge County – 366 properties
  3. Washington County – 324 properties
  4. Manitowoc County – 311 properties
  5. Sheboygan County – 281 properties

Counties with Most Sesquicentennial Farms

Since the Sesquicentennial Farm Award was first given out 1998, the following counties have the most properties to receive the award:

  1. Washington County – 95 properties
  2. Dodge County – 55 properties
  3. Dane County – 54 properties
  4. Columbia County – 49 properties
  5. Manitowoc County – 41 properties

Number of Century Farms Honored in 1948

At the first Century Farms Award Ceremony held in 1948, 808 properties were honored in the first year.

Number of Sesquicentennial Farms Honored in 1998

When the Sesquicentennial Farm Award was added to the program in 1998, 237 properties were honored in the first year.

Program Sponsors

Hillshire Farm

About Hillshire Farms

Fritz Bernegger, professional butcher, sausage maker, and meat cutter, was born in Salzburg, Austria in 1904. In 1926 he came to America and bought a small meat market with Billy Schmidt in New London, Wisconsin. By 1934, they grew the business to include two supermarkets and a slaughterhouse.

The company operated as Hillshire Farm until 1988, but as it continued to grow, it ultimately merged with Kahn’s to later form one of the nation’s largest meat producing companies. Today, Hillshire Farm continues as a major meat brand of Tyson Foods, Inc.

Hillshire Farm’s nationally distributed products are some of America’s favorites. Learn more about Hillshire Farm at hillshirefarm.com.

Compeer Financial

About Compeer Financial

Compeer Financial is a member-owed Farm Credit cooperative serving and supporting agriculture and rural communities. The $22.8 billion organization provides loans, leases, risk management and other financial services throughout 144 counties in Illinois, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.

Based in the Upper Midwest, Compeer Financial exists to champion the hopes and dreams of rural America, while providing personalized service and expertise to clients in the agriculture industry.

Compeer Financial is the third largest cooperative of the Farm Credit System, a nationwide network of lending institutions supporting agriculture and rural communities with reliable, consistent credit and financial services. Learn more about Compeer Financial at compeer.com.