[099]STATE PROGRAM RECOGNIZES LAUDERDALE COUNTY FARM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sept. 16, 2008
CONTACT: Caneta Hankins, 615-898-2947

STATE PROGRAM RECOGNIZES LAUDERDALE COUNTY FARM FOR CONTRIBUTIONS
142-Year-Old Hyde Farm is County’s 7th Century Farm, Hankins Reports

(MURFREESBORO, Tenn.)—The Hyde Farm in Lauderdale 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.
According to the family’s records, the ancestors of Henry J. Hyde Sr. came from England in the 18th century and landed on the coast of North Carolina. Eventually, Hartwell Hyde, Henry’s great-grandfather, moved westward into Tennessee and settled in Triune, a small crossroads community between Franklin and Murfreesboro.
The family owned many acres in Williamson County and several family members are buried in a cemetery near Triune. Henry, who was born in 1847, decided to move on, thinking he would head to Texas, but stopped in the town of Ripley in Lauderdale County, where he secured a teaching job, saved his money and purchased 140 acres 1866. This land is the Hyde Farm that remains in the family today.
Per the family’s history, Henry married three times and fathered six children. The Hydes raised cotton, corn, hay, cattle, sheep and horses. A tannery and brick-making yard also operated from this farm. In addition to managing the farm and teaching, Henry served as the first president of the Farmers Union Bank of Ripley, which managed to survive the Great Depression. This bank continued to operate successfully for many years until Union Planters of Memphis, now Regions Bank, purchased it. The original building still stands in Ripley but is now vacant.
The second owner of the farm was the founder’s son, Henry J. Hyde Jr., who acquired the land in 1928. He and wife Annie Lee Steelman had two children, Ralph and Gladys. The family raised soybeans, wheat, corn, cotton, cattle and sheep. To help with his farming practices, Henry often sought the advice of the county extension agent and Annie was a member of the Home Demonstration Club. Ralph and Gladys, who walked two miles to school each weekday, milked cows before school and did farm chores after returning home.
In 1976, the founder’s grandchildren, Ralph and Gladys (Whitley) obtained the land. At that time, Ralph acquired the farmhouse and 30 acres and his sister, who lives in Covington in neighboring Tipton County, took the remainder of the property.
A farmhouse that was constructed in 1917 was remodeled in 1999 when Ralph and wife Donna retired from their jobs in Memphis and came to live on the farm. Currently, the land is worked and rented by Guilford Williams. The farm supports cattle, horses, soybeans, wheat, corn and hay, and Ralph Hyde continues to seek the advice of the county extension agent in managing the family farm.
“The Hyde Farm is the seventh farm to be certified in Lauderdale County,” Hankins confirmed.

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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 denoting 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, please contact the CHP directly at 615-898-2947.