2005
On August 16, 2005, a farm of 80 acres located in Section 7 of Harrison Township at the corner of Sheldon Avenue and 180th Street in Adair County, Iowa, was one of 260 farms designated as a Century Farm this year by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship in conjunction with the Iowa Farm Bureau. A certificate and metal plaque were awarded to the owner, Virginia Kirkpatrick of Stuart, Iowa. The presentation was made at an impressive ceremony held at the Iowa State Fair. On hand to accept the award were Virginia's son Gene Kirkpatrick and his wife Marilynn of West Liberty, Iowa, and Virginia's grand-daughter Kami and her husband Brad Wernimont of Fairfax, Iowa.
The Century Farm was purchased in 1904 by Maggie (Holland) Kirkpatrick for $47.00 an acre with an inheritance from her father, Thomas Holland of LaSalle County, Illinois. Maggie owned the farm until her death in 1942, when it was inherited by her husband Matt. Matt of Casey, Iowa owned the farm until his death in 1949 when it was passed down to his son, Gene M. Kirkpatrick of Casey, Iowa. When Gene died in 1977 the farm was inherited by his son Dale Kirkpatrick of Casey, and it then became Virginia's farm when Dale died in 1998. There are no buildings on the farm and the principal crops are corn and soybeans.
