Centennial FarmsJohn F. and Rose E. Doyle Farm • 1918 • Freeport • Michael Doyle • Consumers Energy

Albert and Helen Kapenga Farm • 1918 • Holland • Michael and Sandra Kapenga • Consumers Energy

William Thomas Roberts Farm • 1910 • Au Gres • Walter Broadworth • Consumers Energy

Joseph and Anna Zerlaut Farm • 1908 • Holton • Gregory and Christy Zerlaut • Consumers Energy

Charles E. and Estella F. Riley Farm • 1919 • Perry • Christine McGoron • Detroit Energy Foundation

William Francis Farm • 1912 • Croswell • Darl and Grace Temple • Detroit Energy Foundation

Joseph Wipping Farm • 1903 • Ruth • Sally O’Henley

Frederick and Philadelphia Clarke Farm • 1890 • Coleman • Nathan and Christina Clarke • Consumers Energy

William Chappel Farm • 1905 • Kinde • William and Nancy Chappel • DetroitEnergy Foundation

Frank and Mary Hajek Farm • 1919 • New Lothrop • Chris and Rhonda • Hajek • Consumers Energy

Peter and Laura Horn Farm • 1887 • Charlotte • Terry and Leah Horn •Consumers Energy

Joseph Sellmyer Farm • 1907 • Middleton • John and Carol Rosencrans • Consumers Energy

Egbert VanSpyker Farm • 1871 • Zeeland • Jonathan, Thomas, Betsy, and JaniceVanSpyker • Consumers Energy

Gavin W. and Julia S. Telfer Farm • 1918 • Owosso • Earl Telfer • Consumers Energy

Robert Russell Burns Farm • 1902 • Millington • Ronald Burns • Consumers Energy

Peter and Rosa Gross Farm • 1919 • New Lothrop • Ruthann and William Hemgesberg • Consumers Energy

Nathaniel Howes Farm • 1903 • Lawrence • Patricia Garrod • Consumers Energy

Sesquicentennial FarmsAbraham and Mary Tunison Farm • 1835 • Metamora • John and Norma Tunison • Detroit Energy Foundation

Henry Bross Farm • 1869 • Manchester • Gary H. Bross • Detroit Energy Foundation

Henry Brandt Farm • 1869 • Bay City • Nicole Ocholik, Traci Beier, JenniferBrandt, Rebecca Brandt, and Sara Perry• Consumers Energy

Joseph Meyers Farm • 1869 • Portland • Gerald and Tamara Meyers • Consumers Energy

Charles E. Rockwell Farm • 1865 • Clio • Randy D. and Sherri L. Hawley • Consumers Energy

Thomas Curry Farm • 1869 • Tawas City • Kathleen F. Curry • Consumers Energy

John Parementer and La Vina Holden Farm • 1869 • Brooklyn • Alvin and Judith Hogle • Consumers Energy

Fredrick Techloff Farm • 1868 • Scottville • Virginia Ellen Strand • Great Lakes Energy Cooperative

Henry C. Yanke Farm • 1867 • Howard City • Grace Marie Yanke • Consumers Energy

Howes Farm

34 | HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF MICHIGAN

MICHIGAN CENTENNIAL FARMS

Listed are recently certified farms, including the original owner’s name, year founded, location, current owner(s), and sponsoring utility company.

The Michigan Centennial Farm program, which is operated by the Historical Society of Michigan, celebrates the state’s oldest family farms. The first Centennial Farms were certified in 1948 with support from Detroit Edison Company, Consumers Power Company, local electrical cooperatives, and farm groups. Today, the program continues to highlight the significant accomplishments of family-owned Michigan farms.A Centennial Farm is a working farm of 10 or more acres that has been continuously owned by the same family for at least 100 years. The Historical Society of Michigan also offers Sesquicentennial and Bicentennial Farm certifications, recognizing farms that have been owned by the same family for 150 years and 200 years or longer. The Michigan Centennial Farm program receives significant financial support from its sponsors. Since the program moved to the Historical Society of Michigan in 2008, the Consumers Energy Foundation and the DTE Energy Foundation have been the program’s Lead Sponsors. We deeply appreciate their support, which makes it possible for this program to thrive and grow.

To obtain an application packet or replacement sign order form, contact us at (800) 692-1828 or visit hsmichigan.org.

Lead Sponsors

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The Peter and Winifred Bogard Farm began when the couple purchased land in McBain in March 1920. Prior to purchasing the farm, Peter served in France during World War I, returning home in May 1919 and marrying Winifred just a month later. Building their home on the property, the couple moved there to rear their five children.

In 1936, Peter purchased an additional barn, and with the help of his brother, Dennis, who was a carpenter, a nearby barn was disassembled and moved by horse and wagon to the Bogard farm. The couple kept five horses that were used for much of the farmwork, as well as pigs, chickens, and a small herd of dairy cattle. The crops they farmed included sugar beets, potatoes, corn, and hay.

Modern updates, such as electricity, came to the farm throughout the 1930s. The family worked to bring water to the barn in 1935 and indoor plumbing to the house in 1939. Prior to indoor plumbing, an outhouse was utilized, with catalogs used as toilet paper since toilet paper was deemed an unnecessarily high expense. Milking machines and the first tractor came to the farm in 1941, allowing the owners to downsize the number of horses they needed.

One of Peter and Winifred’s sons, Lee, bought the farm along with his wife, Harriet, in 1961. They started with 27 Holstein cows and grew corn, oats, and hay. Lee and Harriet brought up two daughters and two sons together as Lee continued his family farm’s legacy.

The Howes farm was established in 1903, when Nathaniel and Celena Howes purchased 79.5 acres of land. At that time, Nathaniel grew hay, corn, and wheat, in addition to keeping a few horses and dairy cows. The farm’s greasy clay soil proved to be useful in holding water for the crops during dry spells but a burden when trying to move any machinery through it.

With Nathaniel’s passing in 1953, Celena sold the farm to Nathaniel’s first cousin, Fred Garrod Sr., who already owned adjoining property on the east side of the Howes’ farm. Fred Sr. was a dairy farmer and used the increase in acreage to expand his hay, corn, and wheat crops. Fred had married his wife, Edith, in 1923, and they had four children together. One of their sons, Fred Jr., graduated from Michigan State University, wanting to continue working on the family farm.

After Fred Jr. married his wife, Patricia, in 1960, the couple moved into the home where Nathaniel and Celena had once reared their family. The original farmhouse served as their home until 1971 when a new one was built just a few feet from the old location.

Fred Sr. and Fred Jr. worked the farm together until Fred Sr.’s passing in 1973. After the farm was officially sold to Fred Jr., he and Patricia continued to operate the dairy farm and grow crops. They have since discontinued dairy farming but have added more acreage to continue their own family farming tradition.

Nathaniel Howes FarmLawrence • Established February 4, 1903

Peter and Winifred Bogard FarmMcBain • Established March 31, 1920

Lee, Edna, and Jerry Bogard on a doodlebug, or homemade tractor, and the Bogard farm property as it is seen today.

Historical and current

images of the Howes

barn.

THESE CENTENNIAL FARM DESIGNATIONS ARE SPONSORED BY

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CENTENNIAL FARM SPOTLIGHTS

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