Ray and Jo Ellen Kubik and family pictured on Aug. 18 in Des Moines alongside Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig (far left). PHOTO COURTESY OF IOWA DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE AND LAND STEWARDSHIP

Three separate Tama County farm families were honored on Thursday, August 18, at the Iowa State Fair Livestock Pavilion with Century Farm designations this year including Ray and Jo Ellen Kubik and family of Traer (est. 1908); Mark and Cindy Tomlinson and Dallas and Kaitlyn Tomlinson of Traer (est. 1911); and Cynthia and Wade Mitchell of Traer (est. 1922).

The Kubik family farm is located in Buckingham Township. The land was first purchased on March 2, 1908, by Joseph and Mary Kubik, present owner Ray Kubik’s grandparents. The farm originally comprised 160 acres and cost $115 per acre, according to the Kubiks’ Century Farm application. Some of the original buildings are still present on the property.

The Tomlinson family farm is also located in Buckingham Township. The land was first purchased on February 24, 1911, by William and Joe Tomlinson, present owner Mark Tomlinson’s great-great-grandfather and great-grandfather, respectively, who were born in Yorkshire, England. The farm originally comprised 120 acres and cost $207 per acre, according to the Tomlinsons’ Century Farm application.

The Mitchell family farm is located in Perry Township. The land was first purchased on January 17, 1922, by Peter P. and Rose Weaver, present owner Cynthia Mitchell’s grandparents. The farm originally comprised 240 acres, according to the Mitchells’ Century Farm application.

A total of 351 Iowa farm families were recognized this year with Century or Heritage Farm designations. The Century Farms and Heritage Farms programs celebrate farms that have been owned by the same families for 100 and 150 years, respectively.

Cynthia and Wade Mitchell and family pictured on Aug. 18 in Des Moines alongside Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig (far left). PHOTO COURTESY OF IOWA DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE AND LAND STEWARDSHIP

A photo of the Tomlinson family was not available from the IDALS website.