Published: September 02, 2008 10:43 am      

Local farms honored by state for longevity

One farm started in 1813, the other in 1816. Both deeds were signed by President James Madison.

The two are part of Indiana’s rich agricultural history. And recently, both farms were recognized with a Hoosier Homestead Award in recognition of their more than 150-year commitment to Indiana agriculture.

“We were all very excited about it,” said Gary Jacobi, whose family farm, which includes 400 acres, is located off Greenville-Georgetown Road.

Jacobi and his brother, Bruce, and sister, Maxine, received the award last month at the Indiana State Fair from Lt. Gov. Becky Skillman.

The other local farm honored is owned by Elden Glaze and his wife, Florence, and sits in Harrison County, off Ind. 111, near the Floyd County border. Glaze received his award from State Sen. Richard Young at Lincoln Hills Nursing Home on Friday.

“He lived on that farm all his life,” said Glaze’s granddaughter, Teresa Campbell. “My grandma still lives on that farm.”

Jacobi and his family lease sections of the land to local farmers and 100 acres of the farm are used to harvest trees for lumber.

“We’re really proud of our wood lot,” Jacobi said. “Wood is as much a part of the farm as corn.”

Besides corn, other crops grown at the site include soybeans and wheat. But it’s not all work.

Jacobi hosts a group of children from a Salvation Army camp each summer and recently, a group of teenagers who took part in a week-long camp paid a visit to the farm.

“It was really a great educational experience for the kids,” he said.

On Wednesday, he will entertain Rep. Baron Hill and other state dignitaries.

Glaze has been at Lincoln Hills since January and didn’t get to make the trip to the state fair last month with the rest of his family. That is why Young paid his a visit to congratulate him in person.

Like Jacobi, Campbell said the family leases the land to others to farm.

The Collins-Taylor-Jacobi family farm, along with the Glaze farm, join nearly 4,500 Hoosier Homestead farms. To be named a Hoosier Homestead, farms must be owned by the same family for more than 100 consecutive years and consist of more than 20 acres or produce more than $1,000 of agricultural products per year.

“Hoosier farmers are part of the fabric of our great state,” Skillman said in a release. “As we focus on leading and expanding agriculture’s future, it is only appropriate that we pause to recognize these families who have continued our rich agricultural heritage.”