Aksarben has been honoring our state’s agricultural heritage for nearly 130 years, and began celebrating the dedication and perseverance of Nebraska farm families with Pioneer Family Farm awards in 1956. Since then, nearly 10,000 families have been recognized statewide with either a Pioneer (100 years) or Heritage (150 years) Family Farm Award. Paying homage to these families is something Aksarben looks forward to each year and, in partnership with Nebraska Farm Bureau and the Nebraska Fair Board Managers, we are excited to announce this year’s honorees.
“Each year we get to reflect on the commitment of these Nebraska farmers who work tirelessly to feed not just our nation, but the world. The dedication these families have to Nebraska is truly inspiring, and celebrating these milestones is such an important legacy,” said Sandra Reding, Aksarben Foundation President.
Mark McHargue, President of Nebraska Farm Bureau, adds, “Nebraska Farm Bureau is proud to be part of this long-standing program. Farm and ranch families deserve to be recognized with this coveted and prestigious award which includes nearly 10,000 families in its alliance. These awards recognize the commitment to preserve and build Nebraska agriculture for future generations.”
To apply, families should visit Aksarben.org and fill out an application. The deadline to apply each year is April 15. Once the application is received, the Aksarben Foundation will work with the county that the farmland is located within to approve the application. To commemorate their achievement, each family listed will receive an engraved plaque and gatepost marker at their respective county fair.
The 2023 Farm Families are as follows:
2023 Heritage Farm Families – Honoring 150 Years:
Butler County – Thomlin Family Farm
Cass County – Todd Farms; Foster Farms
Dakota County – Randy Lussier Farm
Dawson County – Dunaway Family Farm
Dodge County – Pedersen Family Farm; Gottlob Low Family Farm
Fillmore County – Joseph Reinsch Family Farm; Vaclav Svec Family Farm
Gage County – Plucknett/Peters Family Farm; Smith Family Farm
Jefferson County – Boddye Family Farm; Glenn Family Farm
Johnson County – Bailey (Roberts) Family Farm; Roberts Family Farm
Madison County – Simonson Homestead; Uecker Family Farm
Merrick County – Wiegert Family Farm
Pawnee County – Steinauer Family Farm
Richardson County – Rieger Family Farm
Saline County – Kaspar Family Farm; Safranek Family Farm
Sarpy County – Graham-Stoltenberg Family Farm
Saunders County – Henry Paustian Homestead
Seward County – Charles Lee Lyon Homestead; Blaine B. Miller Family Farm
Stanton County – Asch Family Farm
Washington County – Weitkamp Family Farm; Novak Family Farm; Mueller Family Farm
2023 Pioneer Farm Families – Honoring 100 Years:
Adams County – William Berg Family Farm; Frank Hubl Widower Family Farm
Antelope County – Stelling Family Farm
Box Butte County – Walters Family Farm
Buffalo County – Busch-Rohrich Family Farm; Book-Rohrich Family Farm; Rohrich Family Farm; Dorothy Family Farm
Burt County – J. Edward & A. Charlotte Olson Family Farm
Cass County – Linda Rohlfs-Lenker Family Farm
Cedar County – Wuebben Family Farm
Cuming County – Schutte Family Farm
Custer County – Tobias Family Farm; Spanel/Curtis Family Farm
Colfax County – Janousek Family Farm
Dawes County – Galbreath Family Farm
Deuel County – Freeman/Paulsen Family Farm; Mauser Family Farm
Douglas County – Wulf Family Farm
Fillmore County – Novak Family Farm; Landgren Farms
Frontier County – Snyder Family Farm
Furnas County – Hill Family Farm; Hill Ranch
Gage County – Dorn Family Farm; The Buhr Family; Edwards-Huetson-Sachtleben Family Farm; John Hereth Family Farm; Trout Family Farm
Garden County – Paulsen Family Farm
Hall County – McGuire Family Farm; Fred and Mary Harker Family Farm
Hamilton County – Dose Family Farm
Jefferson County – Hahn Family Farms
Johnson County – Peters Family Farm; Tagart Farm
Keith County – Peters Family Farm
Knox County – Schwarts Family Farm
Lancaster County – Boldebuck Family Farm
Lincoln County – Frels Family Farm
Merrick County – Ferris Heritage; Halstead/Ferris Windbreak Pasture
Nuckolls County – Hanson Family Farms
Otoe County – Linda Rohlfs-Lenker Family Farm; Wulf Family Farm; Wellman Family Farm
Pawnee County – De Koning Family Farm; Hothan Family Farm
Pierce County – Shermer Family; Hoffmann Family Farm; Petersen Family Farm
Red Willow County – Haag Family Farm
Saline County – Prokop Family Farm
Sarpy County – Haug Family Farm; Hurlbutt Family Farm; Graham-Stoltenberg Family Farm; Iske Farm
Seward County – Kraus Family Farm; Hodde Family Farm; Young Family Farm
Sherman County – Descendants of Charles Quartz
Sheridan County – Cerny Family
Sioux County – Hamaker Ranch
Thayer County – Brinegar Family Farm
Thurston County – Targy Family Farm
Valley County – Dorsey Family Farm
Washington County – Hansen Family Farm; Duane & LaRae Moseman Family Farm
Wayne County – Kermit Johnson Family Farm
Webster County – Johnson Family Farm
York County – Naber Family Farm; Andrew Morner Family Farm
For more information about the Aksarben Foundation, visit aksarben.org
