Area farms recognized as Heritage Farms

By Travis Fischer, tkfischer@charlescitypress.com

Two area farms were recognized for 150 years of family ownership during this year’s Iowa State Fair.

Receiving recognition as a Heritage Farm at the fair was the farm of Marvin and Rana Wilson.

“I think that’s really cool,” said Rana Wilson. “I think it’s fantastic that they recognized 150 years.”

Scottish immigrant Alexander Wilson, Marvin’s great-grandfather, purchased the Rockford area farmland from speculators in 1870. Alexander passed the farm on to his son, Alex Jr., who passed it down to his children, Floyd and Florence. Floyd’s son, Marvin, purchased the farm in 1970. Today Marvin and his wife, Rana, live in the house built on the property in 1912.

“I couldn’t get used to the quiet because I lived in the city,” said Rana. “Now I love the quiet.”

Marvin and Rana couldn’t make it down to the State Fair to receive their recognition in person, but are looking forward to getting their plaque.

Also recognized as a Heritage Farm at the fair this year was the Kramer farm.

Belonging to Donna Engles-Jones, Dean Jones and Kathy and Derek Steere, the Rockford area farm was purchased on Sept. 21, 1865 by Mathias Kramer.

Mathias passed the farm onto his son, John Kramer, who passed it to John M. Kramer and his wife, Theresa. From there, the farm passed down to their daughter, Maxine Engels, who passed it to her children, Donna and Kathleen.

The original farm house built in 1865 stands to this day and Donna Engles-Jones is proud to be recognized as one of the relatively few Heritage Farms in the state.

“There are well over 20,000 Century Farms in Iowa, but only 1,800 Heritage Farms,” said Engles Jones. “I can’t impress how rare of an occurrence it is becoming with the lure of top dollar for land in Iowa. Many times this comes with great sacrifice to keep the farm in a family’s lineage.”

Mathias Kramer’s descendants went to the State Fair, happy to receive recognition for keeping their family farm going for a century and a half.

“The importance of keeping ownership within the family was really felt that day and I am happy my family members were there for the experience,” said Engles-Jones.