[449]STATEWIDE PROGRAM RECOGNIZES JACKSON COUNTY FARM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 19, 2008
CONTACT: Caneta Hankins, 615-898-2947

STATEWIDE PROGRAM RECOGNIZES JACKSON COUNTY FARM FOR CONTRIBUTIONS
Cedar Stone Farm Becomes County’s Newest and 7th Designated Century Farm

(MURFREESBORO)—The Cedar Stone Farm in Jackson 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.
Cedar Stone Farm was founded by John Pharris, who purchased 84 acres in 1824 from Sampson Williams, one of the early settlers and county leaders in Jackson County. John and wife Susan Williamson Pharris had nine children. The family raised a variety of crops and livestock on the farm, which is located southwest of Gainesboro in the Liberty community. Over the years, John added more acres to his farm, including a land grant of 45 acres in 1825.
Members of the second generation to own the farm were John and Susan’s daughters, Elizabeth Pharris Cantrell, Polly Pharris and Susan Pharris. Elizabeth had one son, John Newton Cantrell, while Susan had one son, George Washington “Wash” Pharris. Eventually, George and John inherited the farm and they split their ownership of the acreage. Later on, John sold his acreage to John Clemons; however, Wash continued to live on his part of the land all of his life. Wash passed away in 1945, leaving his widow and six young children.
According to the family’s history, one of the most dramatic events that happened during this time was the flood of 1948. It was the only time in 184 years that the original farmhouse flooded. The flood was so strong that it swept away a house about a mile west of the Pharris place. After the rain stopped and the flood subsided, neighbors rallied and helped clean the house.
The Pharris family was active in the Liberty Community Club and in the 4-H club in the 1940s and 1950s. Today, George’s youngest son, Donald V. Pharris, owns the farm. Over the years, Donald has purchased adjoining land, much of which his great grandfather had previously owned. Currently, Donald works the land and raises beef cattle and goats. The old homestead where G. W. Pharris was born still stands on the property and the Pharris family cemetery is also on the land.
Hankins said the Cedar Stone Farm is the seventh Century Farm to be certified in Jackson County.
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 this Century Farm, please contact the CHP directly at 615-898-2947.