Towers Farm. Photo courtesy of IDALS

Two notable family farms in Greene County were recognized for their longevity. 

During the Iowa State Fair, the Towers and Andrew families were honored as heritage farms by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. To be considered as a heritage farm, the farmland needs to have at least 40 acres of original farmland, have consecutive ownership within the same family for 150 years or more and the present farm owner must be related to the original landowner.

Jim Andrew tells Raccoon Valley Radio his three-time great grandfather Joseph Thompson was a Scottish immigrant who came to Greene County and purchased farmland in 1855. Andrew says Thompson bought 80 acres for each of his five children and additional land for himself and his wife. Today, the farm is now owned by Andrew Farms Incorporated.

The Towers and Andrew families, along with 11 other family farms are heritage farms in Greene County and there are 291 century farms in the county.