Bringing an 19th-Century farm back into pristine shape, and keeping it that way, takes hard work, commitment and money.
However, there are a number of Hoosier farm families who take great pride in preserving their historic farms and continue to use them.
Every year, Indiana Landmarks and Indiana Farm Bureau join forces to recognize one of these farm families with the John Arnold Award for Rural Preservation.
Nominations are now being accepted for the 2024 award. They may be made online at indianalandmarks.org/john-arnold-award-rural-preservation
Since it was established in 1992, owners of more than 30 historic farms across the state have been honored with the John Arnold award. Two are located within south central Indiana.
In 1998, the honor was presented to Jackson County resident Mary Elisabeth Keller for her family’s efforts in maintaining the 430-acre Katinger-Trimpe-Keller farm near Cortland.
The 2020 award was presented to Gerald and Betty Manning, the owners of Stream Cliff Farm near Commiskey in Jennings County. Today, Stream Cliff uses their 19th Century buildings for a restaurant, winery, gift shop and herb farm.
Anyone, including farm owners, can submit a nomination for the Arnold Award, which will be presented during the Celebration of Agriculture at the Indiana State Fair in August.
The nomination asks for:
- A brief history of the farm and description of its significant historic structures and features, such as the farmhouse, barns, agricultural outbuildings, and landscape elements.
- A description of how the farm’s historic agricultural structures are used in day-to-day farming operations, and how they have been preserved or adapted.
- High-resolution digital photographs of the farm and its preserved historic features. Historic images are also welcome.
The award winner will receive an outdoor marker and feature coverage in Indiana Preservation magazine.
Indiana Landmarks named the award in memory of John Arnold, a Rush County political leader and farmer who successfully combined progressive agricultural practices with a deep respect for the historic and natural features of the rural landscape.
A father of four children, Arnold was only 36 when he died in a 1991 farming accident.
