Overton Breakfast Celebrates Century Farms

Overton County’s century old farms will be honored Saturday with a breakfast for owners and families.

At least 30 state-registered century farms in Overton County. Overton 4-H Extension Agent Alyssa Anderson said the only recognition those century farms get is on some write-ups done several years ago in the Rotary Agriculture Building.

“It’s a good thing to recognize, those people, especially for these farms that have been around for quite some time,” Anderson said. “And that’s something that we don’t see as often anymore is for farms to stay farms.”

Anderson said agriculture is a huge industry in Overton County, timber and cattle being epically abundant in the county’s history. As farmland disappears, Anderson said it is especially important to celebrate those who have owned and kept farmland and ranches for so long.

“We recognize that this is not a very sought after industry, and so we really appreciate our farmers for what they do. They’re putting the food on our plates,” Anderson said.

According to American Farmland Trust, from 2001 to 2016, the US lost or compromised 2,000 of farmland every day. A 2022 report called “Farms Under Threat 2040” shows that the US is on track to convert over 18 million acres of farmland and ranchland from 2016 to 2040.

To become a century farm, the landowner must apply through MTSU and prove the land has been farmed on for at least 100 years.