Press Release
April 28, 2015
Contact: Glen R. Roberson
State Historic Preservation Office, Oklahoma Historical Society
Office: 405-521-6387
groberson@okhistory.org
www.okhistory.org/shpo
Washita County Farm Owner Receives Centennial Farm Award
Oklahoma City, Okla.—Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer Melvena Heisch announced that an Oklahoma Centennial Farm Award has been presented to the owner of a Washita County farm. Jack Bonny of Elk City owns the Blackmore Bonny Family Farm located southwest of Canute. The family has reared registered short-horn cattle, grown cotton, wheat and garden peas since grandfather S. C. Blackmore arrived in Oklahoma by train. He purchased the land for a total of $8,000 in August 1915. The family lived in a dugout until they built a two-and-one-half-story house in 1925.
To qualify for a Centennial Farm or Ranch Award, a property must be owned by a family member for at least 100 years and must be operated or occupied by a family member or leased out by a family member over the age of 65. 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 26 years, in which time 43 awards have been given in Washita County.
For further information about the Centennial Farm and Ranch Program, contact Glen R. Roberson at 405-521-6387 or groberson@okhistory.org.
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 31 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.
