063 MACON COUNTY FARM JOINS RANKS OF CENTURY FARMS PROGRAM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Aug. 29, 2007
CONTACT: Caneta Hankins, 615-898-2947

MACON COUNTY FARM JOINS RANKS OF CENTURY FARMS PROGRAM
Wheeley Springs Farm Recognized for Agricultural Contributions

(MURFREESBORO)—The Wheeley Springs Farm in Macon County has been designated as a Tennessee Century Farm, reported Caneta S. Hankins, director of the Century Farms Program at the Center for Historic Preservation (CHP), which is located on the MTSU campus.
Located eight miles north of Lafayette is the Wheeley Springs Farm that was founded by Huel Wheeley, who moved from Orange County, N.C., to Tennessee during the 1850s. Married to Mary Elizabeth Johns, the couple had seven children. On the 750 acres, the family raised tobacco, corn, hay, cattle and hogs. Huel also built a farmhouse that was originally a two-room house; over the years it has been remodeled several times.
The second owner of the farm was Thomas Phillip Wheeley, who acquired the farm around 1890 after his parents’ death. Married twice, Thomas fathered 12 children. After Thomas died, his daughter Etta Wheeley Hughes and her husband, Tommie, purchased the property. In 1953, Melvin B. and Fonza Law, sons of Bert and Nellie Wheeley Law, sister of Etta, acquired the property.
Today, three generations call the farm home. Larry F. and his wife Shirley, their son, Larry W., along with wife Christy and their daughters, Jessica and Samantha, live on the land.
Currently, the farm produces cattle, hay and tobacco and is worked by the family. According to the family’s records, part of the original house built by Huel, a feed barn, a tobacco barn continue to be used.
Hankins said Wheeley Springs Farm is the 19th Macon County property to be certified as a Century Farm.
The Century Farm Program recognizes the contributions of Tennessee residents who have continuously owned, and kept in production, family land for at least 100 years. Since 1984, the CHP 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.

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“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.




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ATTENTION, MEDIA: To interview Hankins or the farm’s owners, please contact the CHP directly at 615-898-2947.