Halvorsons garner Heritage Farm recognition
At this year’s Iowa State Fair, 101 Heritage Farms were recognized. Among the families honored for having a Heritage Farm, meaning the family has owned a farm of at least 40 acres for 150 years or more, was the Roger and Connie Halvorson family. Connie (center) was joined by children Rogeta, Tracey and Jay, and daughter-in-law Cindy, at the program. (Submitted photo)
By Audrey Posten, North Iowa Times Editor
At this year’s Iowa State Fair, 366 Century Farms and 101 Heritage Farms were recognized. Among the families honored for having a Heritage Farm, meaning the family has owned a farm of at least 40 acres for 150 years or more, was the Roger and Connie Halvorson family.
The farm, located near Waterville, was bought by Roger’s great grandparents in October 1864, said Connie.
Roger, who represented the area in the state legislature for many years, and also served as the state’s commerce secretary for several years, passed away at the end of 2014. Afterward, Connie, who lived with Roger in Marquette, where they also began Eagles Landing Winery, looked at the abstract to the farm, discovering its age.
“I was really surprised,” she said, to find the farm was 150 years old.
Garnering the recognition seemed like a nice tribute to her husband, Connie said wistfully.
“Roger was born there, in the farmhouse,” she noted. “He spent the first couple years of his life there.”
Several years into Roger’s life, his family moved to another farm, but his father, Victory, continued to work the Halvorson farm, Connie said. They had dairy cows and raised corn and hay.
The farm was later divided between Roger and his two brothers, marking the farm’s fourth generation.
“They decided Roger should have the section with the house since he was born there,” Connie explained.
That was the center section, Connie said. At 80 acres, it was the original part of the farm. Other land was added over the years, but that former part dated back to 1864, and was the section considered for the Heritage Farm recognition.
Although one of Roger’s brothers farmed for a time, Connie said the land was most recently farmed by a renter. Most of the buildings are gone, with a small Norwegian granary one of the only remaining structures. In June, the Halvorsons gave up ownership.
“We signed the papers to sell to the renter,” Connie said. “The renter lives over the hill, so the farms joined.
“I think [Roger] would have been happy about that. He wanted to see it taken care of.”
Connie said the Heritage and Century Farm program, which included presentations by Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey and Iowa Farm Bureau President Craig Hill, was great.
“I enjoyed listening to it,” she said. “I appreciate what the Farm Bureau does to bring that pride to families. People are very proud of Iowa’s farming tradition.”
For the program, Connie was joined by daughters Rogeta and Tracey, along with son Jay and his wife, Cindy. Connie and Roger’s other daughter, Lisa, was unable to attend.
“It was a fun day and we were very proud,” Connie stated. “We’ll treasure it forever. I just wish Roger could have seen it.”
