Heritage Farm Program - Part 3 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 CENTENNIAL FARMS 

          3. VOLNEY AND RUTH BARNES FARM: The Volney and Ruth Barnes Farm, located in Centertown, Kentucky, is owned by Jerry C. and Zexia Barnes Bishop along with Lyman and Joyce Barnes.  The farm was originally purchased in 1883 and 1884 by Elijah S. Barnes, grandfather.  Volney and Ruth Barnes, parents, became owners of the farm in 1917.  In 1981 the present owners obtained the farm.

          The original purchase included 214 acres, all of which are presently retained.  The farm now consists of these 214 acres with 94 acres being actively farmed.  They raise corn, soybeans and tobacco.