Alden farm to be honored for being over 150 years old

Published 9:07 am Friday, May 11, 2012

The Minnesota Farm Bureau announced Tuesday it will recognize 24 recipients of its Sesquicentennial Farm award this year, and one of them is from the Alden area.

The farm owned by Gloria (Melander) Jorgenson has been in the family since 1856, a news release states. The farm is at 26504 640th Ave., about three miles east of Conger and three miles south of Alden.

A commemorative certificate signed by Gov. Mark Dayton, Minnesota Department of Agriculture Commissioner Dave Frederickson and Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation President Kevin Paap will be awarded to the recipients, along with an outdoor sign signifying Sesquicentennial Farm recognition.

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Also, the Minnesota State Fair and the Minnesota Farm Bureau recognize 144 Minnesota farms as 2012 Century Farms. Qualifying farms have been in continuous family ownership for at least 100 years and are 50 acres or more. Century Farm families receive a commemorative sign, as well as a certificate signed by the State Fair and Minnesota Farm Bureau presidents and Dayton. Since the program began in 1976, more than 9,100 Minnesota farms have been recognized as Century Farms.

Century farms in the Albert Lea area to be honored this year are:

• Lowell F. and Paige A. Bangert, Albert Lea, 1905

• Andrew and Anlaug Overland, Albert Lea, 1870

• James Benesh Jr., Austin (in Freeborn County), 1899

• Nels and Anne Brua Torkelson, Emmons, 1866

• Cordell Bertram Satre, Bricelyn, 1885

• Rolland and Pamela Warmka, Easton, 1884

• Orville Courrier, Walters, 1866

• Curt Hendrickson, New Richland, 1884