Carol Johnson, Southern Indiana Business Report
A Lawrence County farm with a connection to Thomas Jefferson was one of three Indiana farms that received the Bicentennial Award at the 2023 Indiana State Fair for 200 years of continuous ownership.
The Craig / Day family farm was established in 1823 in Indian Creek Township, about nine miles west of Bedford, and received a Hoosier Homestead Award in August. Hoosier Homestead awards were presented to 103 families that have held continuous ownership of their farm for at least 100 years.
A total of 12 farms from the Radius Indiana region received Hoosier Homestead awards, representing Daviess, Dubois, Greene, Lawrence and Washington counties.
To be named a Hoosier Homestead, farms must be owned by the same family for more than 100 consecutive years, and consist of 20 acres or more, or produce more than $1,000 in agricultural products per year.
Based on the age of the farm, families are eligible for three different distinctions of the award. They can receive the Centennial Award for 100 years, Sesquicentennial Award for 150 years or Bicentennial Award for 200 years of ownership. Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch and Indiana State Department of Agriculture Director Don Lamb presented the Homestead awards.
“Keeping a farm operational for 100 years or more is no simple task,” Lamb said. “Each passing generation has certainly had to adapt and evolve their farming practices and techniques to ensure their farms continued success.”
“The Hoosier Homestead ceremony is always a highlight of the Indiana State Fair for me,” said Crouch, Indiana’s Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development. “Celebrating these longstanding farming families and their ancestors for their work and commitment to our state and Indiana agriculture is a true honor.”
Q&A with farm owner Greg Day
The Southern Indiana Business Report invited the Craig/Day family to share the history of their farm and their efforts to keep it in the family. The following responses are from owner Greg Day.
Who started the farm and what year it was established?
Our farm was established in 1823 by my five great-grandparents, Jim Craig Jr. and his wife, Sarrah (Waggoner) Craig. Both the Craig and Waggoner families had moved to Indiana from Virginia at separate times. Interestingly, Jim Craig Jr. and the family were friends with Thomas Jefferson, often hunting with him before they left Virginia. Jefferson wrote about his hunts with the Craig family in some of his presidential writings. Additionally, Jim Craig Jr.’s cousin Elijah Craig was the founder of Elijah Craig Distillery in Kentucky, which is still in operation today.
What was the size of the farm 200 years ago and what is the size of it now?
Jim and Sarrah originally purchased 10 acres in early 1823, but later that year bought a neighboring 160 acres from Sarrah’s family. They purchased both plots for a combined $730. Through the years, the family has purchased and sold various parcels around the farm, thus having the farm vary in size through the past 200 years. However, the original 170 acres has always remained in the family. Currently, our farm is 183 acres.
What products are raised on the farm today?
Today, cattle is the primary commodity of the farm. However, alfalfa hay is grown yearly, as well as corn and soybeans in alternating years. In the early years of the farm, both corn and wheat were grown. Originally, a horse run mill was operated to grind the wheat and corn. In the 1830’s a larger mill was constructed in Indian Creek where the water operated two pairs of stone wheels. Not only was the grain ground at this mill, but a sawmill and distillery also operated on the farm.
How many families or family members are involved in the farm?
My wife, Karen, and I purchased a small plot from my grandparents, Audra and Clarice Craig, in 2001. We built our house and continue to live there. We have raised both of our children, Heath (23) and Claire (19) here on the farm. Heath and his wife, Cheyan, purchased 12 acres next to the farm late in 2022. So, at this time, there are 195 contiguous acres that we farm.
I began running the farming operations after moving to the farm in 2001. At that time, my grandfather was still alive and we farmed together until he was no longer able. After his passing in 2014, he left the farm to myself and two brothers. I have since bought my brothers’ shares, so currently my family operates the farm. We have since fixed up my grandparents’ farmhouse, and my mom has moved back to the farm where she spent her childhood.
200 years is an incredible achievement and when you think about how much change has taken place and the migration of families leaving farm life and jobs, has it been a challenge for your family to continue with the farm? What do you do to make it work for your family?
Thinking about the changes and challenges that the family has faced through the past 200 years is very humbling to me. From Indian raids in the 1820’s, through the Civil War, two World Wars, and the ever-changing economy, our family has persevered. Obviously, unlike the first several generations, the farm is not our sole source of income. In the grand scheme of the farming world, our sub-200 acre farm is nothing major. But to us, it is the most special place on earth.
For the past few years, we have leased out the majority of the farming operations, maintaining a small herd of cows for ourselves. Now that my son is through college and his family has settled next to us, our plan is to slowly move from leasing to completely operating the farm once again.
I am currently the Lawrence County Sheriff, my wife is a school teacher at Bedford North Lawrence, and my son works for Hutson’s John Deere. Certainly those careers will continue, and we know the days of small farms being able to financially support families are long gone. However, I cannot picture a life where the farm is not central to our family. I look forward to my kids carrying on the family tradition.
Homestead awards from the area
Hoosier Homestead Awards were presented to three farms from Daviess County, four from Dubois County, one each from Greene and Washington counties and three from Lawrence County. We congratulate the following farms on reaching milestones.
Daviess County
Dove, 1888, Centennial
Graham, 1841, Sesquicentennial
Paul J. & Mary J. Ryan, 1861, Centennial & Sesquicentennial
Dubois County
Ring, 1857, Centennial & Sesquicentennial
Lange / Wendholt, 1922, Centennial
Mann, 1873, Sesquicentennial
Jochem, 1847, Sesquicentennial
Greene County
Ball, 1845, Centennial & Sesquicentennial
Lawrence County
Craig / Day, 1823, Bicentennial
Stipp, 1923, Centennial
Beal, 1923, Centennial
Washington County
Temple, 1889, Centennial