Fourteen family farms in Georgia were recognized as the state’s newest Centennial Farms during an awards ceremony at the Georgia National Fair on October 8, 2025. The event honored farm owners and their historic properties from the 2023 application year. The ceremony was organized by the Historic Preservation Division of the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA), in partnership with organizations including the Georgia Farm Bureau, Georgia Department of Agriculture, Georgia EMC, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension, and Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter.
Centennial Farms are those that have been in continuous operation for at least 100 years. Since 1993, more than 630 farms have received recognition through the Georgia Centennial Farm Program. There are three types of awards: The Centennial Heritage Farm Award is given to farms owned by the same family for a century or more and listed in the National Register of Historic Places; The Centennial Farm Award recognizes farms at least 100 years old and listed in the National Register; and The Centennial Family Farm Award is for farms owned by one family for over a century but not listed in the register.
The following farm received the 2025 Centennial Heritage Farm Award:
– Ash Farms, Effingham County
The following were named as recipients of the 2025 Centennial Family Farm Awards:
– Stanford Farm at the Martin Homeplace, Coweta County
– Lil’ Slice o’ Paradise, Dade and Walker Counties
– HD Bailey Family Partnership, Dawson County
– Striplin Lands LLC, Gordon County
– Pendergast Hay Farm, Grady County
– Home Place Farms, Hancock County
– Hays Farm, Jackson County
– P.K. Moore Farm, Lowndes County
– Beck Farm, Madison County
– Jenkins Family Historic Farm, Talbot County
– Fielding Tall Pines, Thomas County
– Carl J. Ray Farm, Tift County
– Jordan Farm, Washington County
Anyone interested in nominating a farm for future recognition can find application information on the Georgia Department of Community Affairs website. Applications must be postmarked by May 1 each year.
According to information from the department, “The Historic Preservation Division (HPD) of the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) serves as Georgia’s state historic preservation office. Their mission is to promote the preservation and use of historic places for a better Georgia. HPD’s programs include archaeology protection and education, environmental review, grants, historic resource surveys, tax incentives, the National Register of Historic Places, community planning, and technical assistance.”
The Department of Community Affairs states that it “partners with communities to build strong and vibrant neighborhoods, commercial and industrial areas through community and economic development, local government assistance, and safe and affordable housing. Using state and federal resources, DCA helps communities spur private job creation, implement planning, develop downtowns, generate affordable housing solutions, and promote volunteerism. DCA also helps qualified Georgians with low and moderate incomes buy homes, rental housing and prevent foreclosure and homelessness.”
