Guidelines

The following guidelines are used for the selection and recognition of Missouri Century Farms.

1. The same family must have owned the farm for 100 consecutive years or more as of Dec. 31 of this year.
2. The line of ownership from the original settler or buyer may be through children, grandchildren, siblings and nephews and nieces, including through marriage or adoption.
3. The present farm shall consist of no less than 40 acres of the original land and shall make a financial contribution to the overall farm income.

Application

The application period is open Feb. 1–May 1, 2024. The application fee covers processing costs, one certificate, a booklet and one two-sided, 2-by-2-foot metal sign for each approved farm (sign includes MU and Missouri Farm Bureau logos). Late applications cannot be accepted.

Information needed: Please have this information ready before you start the online application process. Your application form times out after 15 minutes of inactivity. Here are some of the questions that will need to be answered:

• How many acres of the original acquisition are you qualifying as a Century Farm (40 acres minimum)?
• Does this tract contribute toward gross income of the owner(s) (rent counts as income)?
• List the name of the first family member to own the land and that person's relationship to the current owner(s).
• What documents exist that show original family ownership? MUST include one form of proof (document that shows original founder's name and year that land was founded) which may be deed, wills, land patents, abstract of title, grants, county land records, or other. Please email a digital copy or photo of the document page showing founders ownership and the year land was acquired. Send email to extpubs@missouri.edu and include your order number from your confirmation.
  Copies of deeds may be obtained through the local county recorder's office. If written proof is not available, please include an explanation in the "Other documents" field.
• Optional information: Feel free to include an account of any special events held on the farm, unusual happenings, significant improvements, identifying landmarks, farm usage over the years, interesting information regarding the founder and any subsequent owner(s), and description for pictures of special interest. Email digital pictures with the documents as noted above.

New applicants

All applications are submitted online with credit card payment. Select "Apply now" to get to the product page, select the "Submit application" button, complete the application, and proceed through checkout. The application link can be found here when the program opens again in February 2025.

Additional signs or certificates

Application includes one certificate, one booklet and one yard sign. Once your new farm application has been approved, you can purchase additional yard signs or certificates at:

Replacement sign

To order a replacement of the yard sign, see the Replacement sign page.

For more information

Please contact the Missouri Century Farms Coordinator at 573-882-7216 or extpubs@missouri.edu.

Sponsorship

MU Extension, MU College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, and the Farm Bureau jointly sponsor the Missouri Century Farms program. Local MU Extension Councils help with sponsorship by publicizing the program, collecting and certifying nominations, and arranging for local recognition. The Extension Web Services team coordinates the program.