Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles H. Bronson today announced that two North Florida properties have qualified for recognition as a Century Pioneer Family Farms. Recognition in this program means the families have maintained continuous ownership of the property for at least 100 years.

The families who qualified are the heirs of the William and Cornelia Harden family in Wakulla County, and the Nelson and Karen Clark family in Gadsden County.

"These families have been able to retain ownership of their land through the Great Depression, diseases, droughts, freezes and the urbanization of Florida," Bronson said. "That is a great tribute to the many generations of these families.

The 100-acre Harden property is mostly surrounded by National Forest land and is used for vegetable gardening and timber production. The 56-acre Clark property has been used for cattle grazing and row crop production, and also contains 17 acres of pine trees.

Since the program began 25 years ago, 139 family farms have received the Century Pioneer Farm designation. The program is administered by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services with assistance of the Florida Agricultural Museum.

For more information about the program or to apply for membership into the program, contact Richard Gunnels at gunnelr@doacs.state.fl.us or (850) 488-3022, or visit http://www.florida-agriculture.com/marketing/century_pioneers.htm.