[383]STATEWIDE PROGRAM RECOGNIZES OBION COUNTY FARM FOR CONTRIBUTIONS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 8, 2008
CONTACT: Caneta Hankins, 615-898-2947

STATEWIDE PROGRAM RECOGNIZES OBION COUNTY FARM FOR CONTRIBUTIONS
Hutchison Farm Becomes County’s 27th Designated Century Farm

(MURFREESBORO, Tenn.)—The Hutchison Farm in Obion 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, which is located on the MTSU campus.
On March 17, 1908, Walter and Henry Hutchison acquired 200 acres of land northeast of Samburg. On the property, the brothers raised cattle, horses, mules and hogs as well as corn, hay and timber.
According to the farm’s history, when Henry, who was a bachelor, died in 1911, Walter became the owner of his portion of the property. Walter married Blanch Jurden and they were the parents of three children, Frank; Raymon, who died in infancy; and Mary.
The second generation to own the farm was Frank Hutchison Sr., who obtained part of the land in 1956 when his father, Walter, died. In 1981, Frank’s mother passed away and he bought his sister’s partial acreage. Frank and wife Lillian Edgin had three children: Frank Jr., Margaret and Sue.
Frank Hutchison, Jr. acquired the farm in 2000 and he and Timmy Gantt manage the farm that produces corn, soybeans and wheat primarily. Today, three generations live on the family farm that will celebrate its centennial this year.
“The Hutchison Farm is the 27th Century Farm to be certified in Obion County,” Hankins said.
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 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 the farm’s owner or request a jpeg of the Century Farm metal sign that is placed on designated properties, please contact the CHP directly at 615-898-2947.