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MONTGOMERY – The George Harold Jordan Farm, formerly know as the J.T. Jordan and Son Farm, was recently recognized as both a Heritage Farm and a Century Farm by the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries. 

A ceremony was held by the Cherokee County Farmers Federation to recognize the achievement. Amy Belcher, an official from the office of Commissioner Ron Sparks, presented a sign and a plaque signed by Gov. Bob Riley and Sparks recognizing the farm. 

In 1976 the director of the Alabama Historical Commission and the Alabama Dept. of Agriculture met and decided to recognize small family farms in operation over long periods of time. The result is the Century and Heritage Farm program, which recognizes the farms for their place in Alabama’s history. 

The population in rural Alabama in the 1970s was rapidly changing as people moved to urban areas. The number of family farms was diminishing rapidly, as it is today.  It was decided that farms with over 100 years of ownership should be awarded. 

The the first recipients were recognized at an Alabama Farm Bureau meeting in December 1977. To date, over 500 farms have been recognized from all across Alabama.  

A Century Farm is one that has been in the same family continuously for at least 100 years and still has some agricultural activities on the farm. The farm must include at least 40 acres and be owned by the applicant or nominee.  

A Heritage Farm is one that has been operated continuously as a family farm for at least 100 years. The farm should possess interesting and important historical and agricultural aspects, including one of more structures at least 40 years old. There is a complete registry of these farms on the Agriculture and Industries website. 

The Jordan farm, located six miles east of Centre on Highway 411, has been owned and operated by the same family for 165 years. The farm was originally acquired by George’s great-great grandparents on May 1, 1845 via a land patent signed by President James K. Polk. The original farm has expanded many times over the years and remains intact except for the land that was donated to Unity Hill Baptist Church.  

The farm today is a cotton, grain and timber farm.