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Monday, 16 April 2007 |
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 By KAY LOUTH
Staff Writer
ST. MARYS — With roots to the pioneer settlers of the county, almost two-dozen families received recognition as Century Farms or Century Homes Sunday from the Auglaize County Historical Society.
The Century Farms program honors local farms, businesses and homes that have remained in the same family for 100 years or more. The Century Farm program got its start in 1970. This year, three homes were included among the 23 properties recognized. Six farms were recognized for their 150-year mark.
Keynote Speaker, Deputy Director of the Ohio Department of Agriculture Greg Hargett told the group that the Century Farms program was not to, “acknowledge so much as our history, but our heritage.”
Hargett spent a few minutes talking about Robert Boggs, the new state agriculture secretary, telling the group that Boggs had, “hit the ground running,” and there was, “a lot of potential out there for our (ag) products.” Specifically, he mentioned bio-products such as fuel and plastics. Ohio agriculture, Hargett said, is a $79 billion venture and employs one in seven Ohioans.
Having preserved some of the most precious land in the state, farmland, Hargett told the group, “You are Ohio’s heritage, our past and our future.”
Karen Dietz, president of the historical society, presented some odds and ends of county history, such as a mastodon skeleton being recovered at Clay Township and that Pusheta Township was the home of Chief Pusheta and Nobel Township had a lot of great farmland but no villages.
“I’m just so proud that your families have carried on,” she said as she announced recipients.
St. Marys Township resident Tim Tangeman's farm has been in the family for 150 years.
“It’s not so much what I’ve done,” he said of the recognition, “it’s a representation of my ancestors. It’s kind of a neat deal.”
For the fourth year, Barbara Harrod has coordinated the event. Her family was recognized in the 70s as a Century Farm.
“It does my heart good to get these people together to celebrate,” she said, adding that she was, “her daddy’s son.” Her first job was leading the horse down the driveway to take the hayfork and she said she also drove tractors.
As the ceremony came to a close, Hargett took another moment and offered some praise to the historical society.
“What you are doing here in the county is head and shoulders over the rest of the state. I shudder to think of the history we are losing across the state,” he said.
The following families were recognized Sunday: Clay Township: Bernice Ruck and Clea Anna (Roger) Helmlinger, (150-years); Wilbur and Waneta Helmlinger; Linda and Jerry ship; Denis L. Thrush, Douglas R. Thrush and Sheryl C. Thrush Miller Beers. Duchouquet Township: Andrew and Betty Kiser, George A. Brown; Frank and Nancy Heffner. Jackson Township: Paul and Rosalyn Berger; George and Mary Brown; Luke Dahlinghaus (150-years). Moulton Township: Robert Sudman. Noble Township: Kenneth Ankerman (150-years), James and Darlene Hollman, Ruth Hollman, Robert and Barbara Vogel and Eugene and Janice Yahl. Pusheta Township: George and Nancy Lunz; Delores May Schumann and Sharon Ann Schumann (150-years). St. Marys Township: Thomas and Diane Fledderjohann (150-years); Timothy Tangeman and Michael Tangeman (150-years); Salem Township: Marilyn Lichty Haller and Margo Lichty Metzger; Washington Township: Ned and Ruby Berlet (150-years); Cindy and Jerry Lehman, Jr.; Clyde and Christine Wessel.
Contact Kay at:
nkreporter@
theeveningleader.com |
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 19 April 2007 )
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