New Book Highlights Tennessee Century Farms and Agricultural Heritage
In partnership with: Tennessee Department of Agriculture
Agriculture has been a pillar of Tennessee’s history since its inception, and a new initiative will highlight the historical significance of Tennessee century farms. The Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) and the Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) Center for Historic Preservation are collaborating on a book documenting Tennessee’s founding farms.
Tennessee State Historian and director of the Center for Historic Preservation at MTSU, Carroll Van West, Ph.D., previously worked with the Department of Agriculture in the 1980s to release a book titled Tennessee Agriculture: A Century Farms Perspective. The original book highlighted 782 century farms, defined as farms that have been owned by the same family for at least 100 years. Researchers have since conducted more studies, and the state has seen an increase in century farms.
See more: How the Tennessee Agricultural Museum Is Preserving the State’s History
“Today, we have documented more than 2,200 farms,” West says. “This new project focuses on foundational farms established from 1777 through the early 1800s. It will also emphasize the oldest African-American farms, which began after the Civil War.”
For West, a century farm owner himself, this project is both professional and personal.
“We will go into detail on these farms and use more photography than the first book. We want readers to see these places as historic sites and active businesses serving their families and state,” he says.
This historic endeavor is important to TDA.
“Losing farm and forest land is a major concern, given that agriculture and forestry are Tennessee’s top industries,” says TDA Assistant Commissioner for Public Affairs Corinne Gould. “This project highlights the vital role that farming has played and will continue to play in our communities.”
See more: A Look at the History Behind the Ellington Ag Center
The foundational farms book will document Tennessee’s agricultural past and celebrate the enduring commitment of families who have worked the land for more than two centuries. Gould hopes to mark the book’s publication with a celebration for the families involved.
“We want to honor these families’ legacies and invite them to celebrate this milestone with us,” she says.
The new book on Tennessee’s foundational farms will serve as a historical record and a tribute to the resilience of Tennessee’s farming families, preserving their stories for generations to come.