Centennial Farms and Ranches, a statewide program honoring Coloradans who have supported and innovated the state’s agriculture for 100 years or more, is seeking applications for its next round of honorees.
The Centennial Farms and Ranches Program is an initiative of History Colorado and the Colorado Department of Agriculture that recognizes the contributions of the state’s ranching and farming families who have withstood the pressures of growth, changes in farming methods, as well as evolving environmental and economic conditions to preserve important pieces of Colorado’s commercial and cultural history.
“The resilience and innovation of Colorado’s farming and ranching families have sustained agriculture in our communities through the decades, and we are excited to be able to recognize and honor their vital contributions,” said Lindsey Flewelling, History Colorado’s preservation planner for the Centennial Farms and Ranches program.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of Centennial Farms and Ranches, which was started in 1986 by then-Gov. Richard Lamm. Over the years, more than 700 farms, ranches and families have received this honor at ceremonies celebrated at the Colorado State Fair.
In recent years, Centennial Farms and Ranches has also awarded nine Agricultural Legacy Awards to people and organizations who have dedicated their lives to strengthening agriculture in Colorado.
Centennial Farms and Ranches expanded in 2022 to promote a more diverse and inclusive celebration of families, farmers, ranchers and agricultural businesses with 100 or more years of experience contributing to the Centennial State’s agriculture.
From Colorado’s eastern plains to its southern terrain, the Centennial Farms and Ranches program celebrates people and places across the state, including these recent honorees:
• The Hirakata family, who began farming in Rocky Ford in 1915 and became leaders in Colorado agriculture while continuing to grow crops on their multigenerational farm in Otero County.
• Western Sugar Cooperative, a grower-owned co-op recognized as an industry leader in sustainability and a pioneer in the sugar beet industry of Northern Colorado.
• The Candelaria family, whose ancestors settled on ranchland near Pagosa Springs sometime before 1905, and have focused for more than 120 years on maintaining soil health and protecting the land at Ranchito Alegre in Archuleta County.
• The Everitt family, who started homesteading east of Parker in 1874 and in the years since took ownership of the land, raising horses and later cattle, and now running a cattle co-op in Elbert County.
To be recognized by the Centennial Farms and Ranches program, applicants must submit an application and provide verification of eligibility. A complete list of eligibility requirements are included in the 2026 Centennial Farms and Ranches Application.
The deadline for applications is May 1. To apply or learn more, please visit h-co.org/CentennialFarms or call (303) 866-3392.
Awardees will be honored for their perseverance and resilience at the Colorado State Fair, held every August in Pueblo. This year, the celebration will also mark the twin anniversaries of 150 years of Colorado statehood and 250 years of American independence.
Throughout 2026, History Colorado and the Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) are inviting communities to reflect on this once-in-a-generation commemoration through a series of events, exhibitions and projects, including the Centennial Farms and Ranches celebration this summer.
The CDA’s celebrations throughout the year are themed around “Setting Colorado’s Table.”
To kick off 2026, CDA unveiled a large traveling mural that celebrates the history of agriculture. The mural is currently on view at the Colorado State University Spur campus in Denver until March 20, and will later go to Pueblo for display throughout the Colorado State Fair.
More information on the planned celebrations is available at SettingColoradosTable.com.
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