[136] Putnam County Farm Joins State's Century Farms Program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oct. 9, 2009
CONTACT: Caneta Hankins, 615-898-2947

PUTNAM COUNTY FARM JOINS STATE’S CENTURY FARMS PROGRAM
121-Year-Old Mansell Farm Becomes County’s 9th Century Farm

(MURFREESBORO)—The Mansell Farm located in Putnam County has been designated as a Tennessee Century Farm, reports Caneta S. Hankins, director of the Century Farms program at the Center for Historic Preservation, which is located on the MTSU campus.
In May 1888, George Washington “G. W.” Mansell founded a 95-acre farm about two miles east of Cookeville. Married to Lydia Brown, the couple had 10 children; however, two died as infants. On 95 acres, the family raised hay, corn, cattle and poultry. On the farm were a shoe cobbler and a blacksmith that served the community.
In 1937, the farm was divided between two of the founder’s sons. One part of the farm was acquired by Johnnie Lee Mansell, who was married to Ophie May Peek The couple were the parents of Amanda and Elmer Earl. During their ownership, the farm produced hay, livestock, corn and other row crops for the family’s food.
Harvey Napoleon Mansell owned the second parcel of the farm. Married twice, he fathered 10 children. Harvey and his family raised similar crops and livestock to that of his brother, but also raised sugarcane. The cane was used to make molasses and neighbors came for this seasonal activity. The family reports that after the molasses was made, the family and community would celebrate with a community festival. In addition to the making molasses, Harvey and Ruby began hosting family reunions on the farm in 1965. In 1974, as a result of the series of tornadoes, the farmhouse was destroyed and Ruby, who was in the house at the time, died of injuries 21 days later.
In 1975, the grandson of the founders, Kenneth E. Mansell, acquired 41 acres of the farm. Along with his wife Letha, Kenneth and daughter Susie live on the farm, where Kenneth raises hay, pasture, formerly tobacco, livestock, hogs, cattle, mules and llamas. He has been active in 4-H and FFA since he was in high school when he showed calves and pigs.
Currently, Kenneth continues the family tradition of mule handling that dates back to his grandfather. He uses mules in farming and to show. Mule-drawn wagon rides are popular with children on the farm and at the annual “Kids Day on a Farm” at the Tennessee Tech University.
Hankins said the Mansell Farm is the ninth century farm to be certified in Putnam County
About the Century Farms Program

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.

—more—

MANSELL
Add 1

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.

—30—




• ATTENTION, MEDIA: To interview the farm’s owners or request jpegs of the farm for editorial use, please contact the CHP directly at 615-898-2947.










With three Nobel Prize winners among its alumni and former faculty, Middle Tennessee State University confers master’s degrees in 10 areas, the Specialist in Education degree, the Doctor of Arts degree and the Doctor of Philosophy degree. MTSU is ranked among the top 100 public universities in the nation in the Forbes “America’s Best Colleges” 2009 survey.