[181] Madison County Farm Joins Ranks of State's Century Farms Program

MADISON COUNTY FARM JOINS RANKS OF STATE’S CENTURY FARMS PROGRAM

Harris Farm Recognized for Agricultural Contributions

MURFREESBORO—The Harris Farm, located in Madison 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 at MTSU.
The Century Farms Program recognizes the contributions of Tennessee residents who have owned and kept family land in continuous agricultural production for at least 100 years.
In 1905, W. S. Harris, J.W. Harris, and J.L. Harris purchased 102 acres in the Seventh Civil District of Madison County, Tenn. The men raised cotton, corn and cattle on their farm. In 1909, J.L. Harris conveyed his interest in the property to W.S. and J.W. Harris. W.S. married Madelyn Clason, and they were the parents of two children, Wesley Clason and Clarence Rowland Harris. Madelyn Harris also was active in the Home Demonstration Club.
In 1978, Madelyn and W. S. Harris’s sons acquired the family farm, which at the time consisted of 150 acres. Wesley and Clarence raised cotton, corn, soybeans and cattle. Wesley, who did not marry, was a member of the Farm Bureau. Clarence married Beulah G. Harris. Clarence, Beulah and Wesley were all members of the Young Farmers & Homemakers club. Clarence and Beulah had two children, Ronald G. Harris and Linda Carol H. Williamson. Carol was a 4-H member.
Ronald G. Harris, Carol Williamson and their mother, Beulah Harris, now own the Harris Farm. They raise cotton, corn and soybeans on their 150-acre farm. Ronald is married to Gale Harris and they, along with his mother, sister and brother-in-law, Bill Williamson, and Carol and Bill’s son, Brian Williamson, live on the farm today. The farm manager is Andy Williamson, a great-grandson of the founder.
Since 1984, the Center for Historic Preservation at MTSU has been a leader in the important work of documenting Tennessee’s agricultural heritage and history through the Tennessee Century Farms Program.
For more information about the Century Farms Program, please visit www.tncenturyfarms.org. The Center for Historic Preservation also may be contacted at Box 80, MTSU, Murfreesboro, Tenn., 37132 or 615-898-2947.
• ATTENTION, MEDIA: To interview the farm’s owner or request jpegs of the farm for editorial use, please contact the CHP at 615-898-2947.

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