128 STATEWIDE PROGRAM RECOGNIZES FRANKLIN COUNTY FARM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oct. 3, 2007
CONTACT: Caneta Hankins, 615-898-2947

STATEWIDE PROGRAM RECOGNIZES FRANKLIN COUNTY FARM FOR CONTRIBUTIONS
Breezy Knoll Farm One of Two Century Farms to Originate from 115-Year-Old Tract

(MURFREESBORO)—The Breezy Knoll Farm in Franklin 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.
According to the family’s records, the Warmbrod family of Franklin County traces its roots to Switzerland. John Warmbrod II immigrated to America in 1852, first settling in Ohio. He and his wife, Anna Kurt, moved to the Belvidere community in 1892 and two Century Farms originate from this tract.
The Warmbrods had four sons—Charlie, Henry, John II and Alfred. Henry and Alfred acquired a portion of this farm that continues in their line under the East View Century Farm that was certified in 1975.
John Warmbrod II also acquired a part of his father’s property. Married to Ida Ruch, the couple had four children—Roy, Frank, John and Grace. The family raised corn, sheep, hogs and horses primarily.
In 1950, Frank became the third generation to own the farm. Wed to Marie Knapper, they were the parents of Eleanor, Bettye and Donald. Frank raised registered polled shorthorn cattle and first named the farm Breezy Knoll. In 1990, Frank died at age 91. In 1997, Sharon Warmbrod Gamble, the great-great-granddaughter of the founders, and her husband, Jeffrey M. Gamble, acquired the farm from her “Aunt Marie” and her children.
Today, the Gambles continue to manage and work the land, where they raise hay, cattle and are avid breeders of bird dogs such as Brittany Spaniels, Setters and Pointers. Breezy Knoll Farm was selected to host the 2007 Dixie Regional Championship Birddog Festival Trial.
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.
“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.