Heritage Farm Program - Part 2 of 7

          A  Centennial Farm is a farm or ranch in the United States that has been officially recognized by a state documenting the farm has been continuously owned by a single family for 100 years or more. Sesquicentennial Farms (150 years) and Bicentennial Farms (200 years) are also recognized.

          During the Kentucky Bicentennial (1992) Kentucky started a “Heritage Farm Program” that recognized historic farms and ranches. The Kentucky legislature passed a law in 1980, revised July 15, 1982, titled “Kentucky Register of Heritage Farms” (Ky. Rev. Stat. 171.388)  stating that to qualify a farm must comprise at least 40 acres, shall have been owned by the same family at least 100 years, be an active farm, and contain a structure more than 50 years old.  Farms are certified by the Kentucky Heritage Council, in conjunction with the State Preservation Office. An official certificate is issued and signed by the Governor and various officials.

          Ohio County is blessed with two Sesquicentennial Farms and five Centennial Farms.  The following information is “as of” the year  2000 and taken from a book titled: Kentucky’s Historic Farms: 200 years Of Kentucky Agriculture, Turner Publishing, Inc. Paducah, published 1994, 1996, and 2000.  Authors were Clark Ph.D., Thomas; Beatty, Durwood W; Jarratt, C. Ardell; Amos, Christine; Hudson, Karen E.

OHIO COUNTY SESQUICENTENNIAL FARMS

        2.  WILLOW SPRINGS FARM: The Willow Springs farm, located at Hartford, Kentucky, is owned by Bruce and Alison Patton.

          The farm was originally purchased on November 13, 1830 by Charles S. Simmons, great-great-great-uncle. Cephas and Cynthia Simmons, great-great-great-grandparents, obtained the farm on October 28, 1835. On May 5, 1836 Dr. A. R. Rowan and America Simmons Rowan, great-great-grandparents, became owners of the farm. John Butler and Martha Rowan, great-grandparents, obtained the farm on December 10, 1866.  On August 30, 1915 Ansel Patton and Lizzie Rowan Patton, grandparents, owned the farm. Billie Rowan Patton, uncle, became the owner on March 15, 1985. On April 29, 1988 Paul and Carolyn Patton, parents together with Jesse Patton Tanner and Regina Bed, aunts, obtained the farm.  Pal Bruce and Susan Alison Patton became the owners of the farm on July 22, 1988.

          The original purchase included 415 acres. Of the original purchase 58 acres are presently retained. The farm now consists of these 58 acres with 12 aces being actively farmed. They raise burley and dark tobacco along with hay.