420 DICKSON COUNTY FARM JOIN RANKS OF STATE’S CENTURY FARMS PROGRAM

Fiser-Jackson Farm 14th in County to be Recognized for Ag Contributions

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 7, 2006
CONTACT: Caneta Hankins, 615-898-2947

(MURFREESBORO)—The Fiser-Jackson Farm in Dickson County has been designated as a Tennessee Century Farm, reports Caneta S. Hankins, director of the Century Farms program at the Center for Historic Preservation (CHP), which is located on the campus of MTSU.
Located near Cumberland Furnace, the Fiser-Jackson Farm was founded in 1900 by J. M. Jackson. The 104 acres produced corn, wheat and tobacco. J. M. was married to Ada E. Jackson. In 1904, John F. Jackson, a cousin, acquired the farm. A year later, the first known family house was built on the property. Under John’s ownership, swine were added to the farm’s operations.
John’s daughter, Maymie Baker and her husband Hershel Baker were the next owners of the land. In 1955, William Fiser, a great-nephew of the founder, acquired the land. Married to Mary Annie Fiser, the couple had two children. On the farm, they raised corn, tobacco, cattle and hogs.
Today, the farm is owned by Larry Dale Fiser who, along with his cousin Randy Simpkins, manages the farm operations.
This historic farm is the 14th Dickson County farm to be certified as a Century Farm, Hankins said.

About the Tennessee Century Farm Program

The Tennessee Century Farm Program, now 30 years old, recognizes the contributions of Tennessee residents who have continuously owned, and kept in production, family land for at least 100 years. Since 1984, the Center for Historic Preservation at MTSU has been a leader in the important work of documenting Tennessee’s agricultural heritage and history through the Tennessee Century Farm Program, and continues to administer this program.
The Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) began the Tennessee Century Farm Program in 1976 as part of the nation’s bicentennial. Today, the TDA provides a metal outdoor sign, noting either 100, 150 or 200 years of “continuous agricultural production” to Century Farm families.
To be considered for eligibility, a farm must be owned by the same family for at least 100 years; must produce $1,000 revenue annually; must have at least 10 acres of the original farm; and one owner must be a resident of Tennessee. There are more than 1,000 Century Farms across the state and all 95 counties are represented.
“The Century Farmers represent all the farm families of Tennessee,” Hankins said, “and their contributions to the economy, and to the social, cultural, and agrarian vitality of the state, both past and present, is immeasurable. Each farm is a Tennessee treasure.”
For more information about the Century Farms Program, please visit its Web site at http://histpres.mtsu.edu/histpres. The Center for Historic Preservation also may be contacted via mail at Box 80, MTSU, Murfreesboro, Tenn., 37132, or by telephone at 615-898-2947.