Thursday, March 28, 2024

Local farm receives state designation

Taylor-Farm-100-yrThe Illinois Department of Agriculture recently designated the farm owned by Ronald S. (Ronnie) Taylor and Angela Taylor Baird (daughter), near Vienna as a Centennial Farm.

To qualify as a Centennial Farm, a straight or collateral line of descendants must own the agricultural property for at least 100 years. The Taylor family received this historical distinction to their farm after their application for designation as a Centennial Farm was approved earlier this year.

Ronnie and his wife, Joyce, currently live on the farm located at 5615 US Highway 45 North.

Ronnie’s grandparents, S. H. and Daisy Taylor, purchased the property in 1905.

Ronnie acquired ownership of the farm in 1972, and has lived on the farm his entire life.

The 77-acre parcel of the farm receiving the designation produces corn, soybeans and pumpkins each year.

Ronnie and Joyce’s five-acre (+/-) pumpkin field is popular locally during the late summer months, providing a large selection of ornamentals for fall home decor, Halloween and area parades.

“I am pleased to be able to recognize the Taylor family,” said agriculture director Robert F. Flider. “This designation honors them today and their ancestors of yesterday who labored through prosperity and adversity to maintain their family farm. The Centennial Farm program helps to reinforce that family farming remains a viable entity in Illinois agriculture.”

The Illinois Centennial Farms program has recognized more than 8,700 farms since its inception in the early 1970’s. Centennial Farm owners receive outdoor display signage and a certificate signed by the Governor and the Director of Agriculture.

Application information may be requested by writing to the Illinois Centennial/Sesquicentennial Farms Program, Illinois Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 19281, Springfield, Ill. 62794-9281, by phone at 217/524-9129, fax at 217/524-5960 or e-mail delayne.reeves@illinois.gov.