January 25, 2024
Oklahoma Historical Society Press Release
Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer Lynda Ozan announced that an Oklahoma Centennial Farm award has been presented to the owner of a Washita County farm.
Hayden Austin Jr. owns the Hayden G. Austin Jr. Farm located in the vicinity of Foss. The family has grown wheat and raised cattle on the land since grandparents Robert and Ollie Austin settled the land in 1910.
To qualify for a Centennial Farm or Ranch Award, a property must be occupied by a family member for at least 100 years and currently be operated or occupied by a family member or leased out by a family member. The property must include a minimum of 40 acres and gross annual sales of at least $1,000. The Oklahoma Historical Society and the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry have sponsored the Centennial Farm and Ranch Awards for 34 years, in which time 98 awards have been given in Washita County.
For further information about the Centennial Farm and Ranch Program, contact Shea J. Otley at 405-522-4485 or shea.otley@history.ok.gov.
The State Historic Preservation Office is a division of the Oklahoma Historical Society. The mission of the Oklahoma Historical Society is to collect, preserve and share the history and culture of the state of Oklahoma and its people. Founded in 1893 by members of the Territorial Press Association, the OHS maintains museums, historic sites and affiliates across the state. Through its research archives, exhibits, educational programs and publications the OHS chronicles the rich history of Oklahoma. For more information about the OHS, please visit www.okhistory.org.
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