Family farms and a new program honor American history
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Brooke Rollins and Monica Crowley report that the Trump administration launched the American Family Farm Legacy 250 Program to recognize farms continuously owned by one family for 100 years or more, with a special focus on those operating for 250 years.
The program, a partnership between the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, builds on traditions begun during the American bicentennial.
The authors highlight Round Swamp Farm in East Hampton, New York, as an example. John Lester first cultivated the land 300 years ago, and Carolyn Lester Snyder now continues to farm it with her family. They argue these farms are essential not only for providing food and clothing but also for upholding American values like faith, family, and patriotism. These farms sustained the country through hardships like droughts, depressions, and wars, maintaining fertile land and ensuring food supplies.
The administration views supporting these farms as part of a “Farmers First” agenda, aiming to prioritize farmers, ranchers, and rural communities in policymaking. The program also aims to encourage the next generation to continue farming, recognizing that the success of American agriculture is tied to their efforts.
The authors recall Thomas Jefferson’s view of farmers as the nation’s most valuable citizens and state that five families were recently honored on the National Mall, with plans to visit more farms in the future.
