Farms which have been in possession of the same family since 1873, the year Prince Edward Island joined Confederation, will be recognized during the province's 125 celebrations. Each will be designated as a "Confederation Farm" by the Department of Agriculture and Forestry in cooperation with 125 Celebrations. The announcement was made today by Agriculture and Forestry Minister Eric Hammill.
"Prince Edward Island has a long and proud tradition of family farming, and many farms have been passed down from generation to generation," said Mr. Hammill. "Designating those which have been in the same family for at least a century and a quarter is in recognition of the significant role they play in rural communities and in the social and economic life of the province."
Each farm will receive a gatepost sign with the date of its establishment, if known, and the owners will be recognized during a special ceremony this fall. Mr. Hammill said the designation is similar to one organized by the Federation of Agriculture in 1964 when Century Farm signs recognized those farms in operation since the Charlottetown Conference of 1864. Roughly 300 farms were designated at that time.
Mr. Hammill said he will be convening a panel of industry representatives to review the applications.
Martha Ellis, 125 Celebrations coordinator, said letters of applications are now being invited from farm families and individuals. She said each letter of application should contain a brief outline of how the farm was passed down from one generation to the next, either through paternal or maternal ancestors, and to direct or indirect descendants.
Applications should be submitted by August 31 to 125 Celebrations, Enterprise PEI, at P.O. Box 910 in Charlottetown, C1A 7L9.