Heritage Farm Program - Part 4 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 

          4. BENNETT FARM:  The Bennett Farm, located in Beaver Dam, Kentucky, is owned by Alva C. and Dorothy P. Bennett.  The farm was originally purchased on November 13, 1890 by Thomas W. Bennett, grandfather. E. A. and Elizabeth Bennett, parents, became owners of the farm on January 21, 1962.  Alva C. and Dorothy P. obtained the farm on January 2, 1967.

          The original purchase included 53 acres. Of the original purchase 46 acres are presently retained. The farm now consists of 107.7 acres with all acreage being actively farmed. They raise tobacco, forage crops and beef cattle.

          Thomas W. Bennett and his wife Mary Jane Calloway (Molly) Bennett purchased and moved to the original 53 acres in early winter 1890. They moved here from the Beda-No Creek area of Ohio County. They celebrated their 70^th wedding anniversary and lived to be 96 and 92 years of age, respectfully.

          He taught school and farmed for a few years. His wife (Molly) too was very much a part of the farm operation. Together they produced diary, poultry, and produce products as well as conventional crops (tobacco, corn, etc.). She marketed many of the livestock and vegetable products at a mining camp (Taylor Mines) located about 4 miles west.

          The farm was operated in partnership for many years by T. W. and E. A. Bennett, the latter also working off the farm as a miner.

          The present operator (Alva) has operated the farm since 1962 on a part-time basis having also taught vocational agriculture in the Ohio County school system until 1989.