73 Indiana Farm Families Presented With Hoosier Homestead Award

Hoosier Homestead Awards were presented to 73 family farms during this year’s state fair by Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch and Indiana State Department of Agriculture Director Bruce Kettler. Farms across Indiana proudly display their signs showing that they’ve been in the same family for more than 100 years.

Jean Kingseed Gesse received the Centennial Award and Sesquicentennial Award for her farm in Howard County that has been in the family over 150 years.

“Going back to my great-great-grandfather, which I cannot remember obviously, but I do remember my great-grandfather and just seeing them work on the farm, all the transitions farming has made over the years. I actually married a farmer and we still farm. So, it’s just really interesting and neat to have it in the family.”

Gesse describes some of her favorite memories of the farm.

“We used to raise Hereford cattle when I was growing up and I just always liked Hereford cattle. We did a little pigs along that way as well. At one time, I think my grandfather milked but I don’t remember that real well. But just a transition of farming techniques from then to now and how things have changed like the size of equipment.”

As Gesse mentioned, she married a farmer and they farm now in Porter County. Kevin Brush, also a family member, farms the land in Howard County.

Gesse says the plan is for the land to stay in the family for many years to come.

“The plan is to pass it down to my son and then it will go to his two sons, but probably not be farming, Kevin’s family probably will be farming it in the future. That’s the plan right now, anyway, but do plan to keep it in the family definitely.”

The following list includes the August 2021 Hoosier Homestead Award recipients.