Contact Us | Search this Site:

VIRGINIA CENTURY FARM PROGRAM

Honoring the Enduring Spirit of Agriculture and Virginia's Farm Families

Since the first settlers landed at Jamestown nearly 400 years ago and planted crops to sustain themselves through the winters to come, agriculture has been at the heart of Virginia. Our Commonwealth’s traditions and values stem from this heritage and from those Founding Fathers of our state and our nation, many of whom were farmers themselves.

Today, descendants of these first farmers continue to produce food and fiber on the same land as their forefathers. The Virginia Century Farm Program recognizes and honors those farms that have been in operation for at least 100 consecutive years and the generations of Virginia farm families whose diligent and dedicated efforts have maintained these farms, provided nourishment to their fellow citizens and contributed so greatly to the economy of the Commonwealth.

Recognition
In recognition of their designation as a Virginia Century Farm, families will receive a certificate signed by the Governor and the Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, and a sign appropriate for outdoor display. In addition, the name of the farm and its owners will be posted on the Department’s Internet site.

Virginia Century Farms — These 1,009 farms have been recognized as Virginia Century Farms.

Listed by locality, includes farm name and owners. Updated April 21, 2008.

A-C	D-L	M-R	S-Y
Accomack Albemarle Amelia Amherst Appomattox Augusta Bedford Bland Botetourt Brunswick Buchanan Buckingham Campbell Campbell-Amherst Campbell-Bedford Caroline Carroll Charles City Charlotte Chesapeake Chesterfield Clarke Craig Culpeper Cumberland	Dinwiddie Essex Fauquier Floyd Fluvanna Franklin Frederick Giles Gloucester Goochland Grayson Greene Greensville Halifax Hanover Henrico Henry Highland Isle of Wight James City King George King and Queen King William Lancaster Lee Loudoun Louisa Lunenburg	Madison Mathews Mecklenburg Middlesex Montgomery Nelson New Kent Northampton Northumberland Nottoway Orange Page Patrick Petersburg Pittsylvania Poquoson Powhatan Prince Edward Prince George Prince William Rappahannock Richmond (county) Richmond/Northumberland Roanoke Rockbridge Rockingham Russell	Scott Shenandoah Smyth Southampton Spotsylvania Stafford Suffolk Surry Surry/Sussex Sussex Tazewell Virginia Beach Warren Washington Westmoreland Wise Wythe York

Criteria for Century Farm Eligibility

A farm must meet the criteria determined by the Virginia General Assembly to be certified as a Virginia Century Farm:

• It must have been owned by the same family for at least 100 consecutive years;
• It must be lived on or actually farmed by a descendent of the original owner;
• It must gross over $2,500 annually from the sale of farm products, or
• At the discretion of the Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, a farm that does not gross over $2,500 annually, but is being used for a bona fide silvicultural purpose (growing, tending or protecting trees for the purpose of eventually producing income or financial benefit), may be recognized under the program.

Application

To apply for recognition as a Virginia Century Farm, complete the application form, have it notarized and mail it to the following address: Virginia Century Farm Program, Office of Communication and Media Relations, Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services P.O. Box 1163 Richmond, VA 23218
NO APPLICATION FEE IS REQUIRED