TOMPKINSVILLE, Ky. — A new Monroe County initiative is set to honor historic family farms as part of the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary.

The Monroe County Cooperative Extension Service, Monroe County Soil Conservation Service and Old Mulkey Meetinghouse State Historic Site this week announced the 250th Historic Farms Recognition Program, aimed at highlighting the lasting role of agriculture in both American history and the county’s heritage.

“These organizations realize farming and a rural lifestyle has been a constant in the history of America as well as Monroe County, since their formation,” the group said in a statement.

To qualify, farms must be located in Monroe County, consist of at least 40 acres, and have remained in the same family for more than 150 years. Properties must also include at least one structure more than 50 years old, such as a house, barn, shed, crib, silo, windmill, fence or cemetery marker.

The program includes two levels of recognition. Sesquicentennial farms are those owned by the same family for at least 150 years and include historic homes or outbuildings. Bicentennial farms must have been in the same family for at least 200 years and also include historic structures.

Organizers noted that documenting ownership may be challenging due to the loss of Monroe County courthouses in 1863 and 1887. Applicants are encouraged to search records in neighboring counties, including Cumberland and Barren, as Monroe County was not established until 1820.

Land grant records may also help verify ownership, as many of the county’s earliest settlers received land for service in the Continental Army, according to the group.

Applications are due June 30, 2026. Submissions can be emailed to adam.huber@uky.edu with the subject line “250th Historic Farm Application” or delivered in person to the Monroe County Cooperative Extension Office in Tompkinsville.