Century Farms

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture's Tennessee Century Farms Program, administered by the Center for Historic Preservation (CHP) at Middle Tennessee State University, identifies, documents, and recognizes active farms owned by the same family for at least 100 years. All four of the following requirements must be met to qualify for this program:

  • the current farm needs to include 10 acres or more of the original farm owned by the founder(s);
  • must produce at least $1000 in revenue annually and specifically during the past 12 months (though documentation does not have to be submitted);
  • has been in the family continuously for 100 years or more, and provides proof of the founding date and owner, and can provide chain showing all family owners from founder to the present owner;
  • one owner must be a Tennessee resident.

Eligible farms can access the program application here. To date, nearly 2,100 farms across the state have been have been certified as Century Farms. Forty-five of those farms are in Williamson County. The CHP maintains the Century Farms database of information and photographs, most of which is based on applications submitted by farm families. Williamson County Archives is available to assist Williamson County residents with their applications for the Tennessee Century Farms program. The Archives Dept. is also able to accept donations of papers, photographs, and objects that document Century Farm families and the local agriculture industry.