Tradition Farms Material

Questionnaires and Supplemental Material, 1986-

Ms. Collection 216

• Introduction
• Biography
• Scope and Content
• Contents List
• Related Records and Collections
• Additional Information for Researchers

Introduction

The farming tradition is an important component found in Kansas. Families are proud of their heritage. They want to share their endeavors with others.

In July, 1986, the Kansas Tradition Farms program began when Governor John Carlin formed a committee to plan for Kansas’ one hundred twenty-fifth statehood anniversary. The main criteria stipulated that the farms must have been obtained by an ancestor of the current owner’s family one hundred or more years ago. It must either have been farmed or resided upon by a descendant of that founder today. The recipients have received a certificate presented by the Kansas secretary of agriculture and signed by the Kansas governor. The Kansas Tradition Farms program has not changed since its inception in 1986.

Included in the collection are four boxes of questionnaires with supplemental material. The additional material is comprised of correspondence, notes, and photocopied pictures and clippings, from 1986 to the present. Many of the Kansas Tradition Farms’ families sent in original pictures of their farms and family members. The Kansas Historical Society's photographs staff has made copies of those originals for the photo collection. The originals were sent back to the participants.

The collection is composed mainly of questionnaires sent by the Kansas Department of Agriculture. In addition, historical and modern photograph copies are included in the files. Both the Kansas Department of Agriculture and the Kansas Historical Society’s manuscripts collection have the farm history records.

Biography

From its inception in July, 1986, the Tradition Farms project has recognized farm families’ contributions to Kansas. A certificate is given to the farm recipients upon complying with the requirements. Carole A. Jordan, public information officer for the Kansas Department of Agriculture, felt gratified at the response of the people to the project. “People love to talk about their families and farms. It makes you feel good to talk with them.” (Carole A. Jordan, “Program Honors Old Family Farms,” Hutchinson News, July 27, 1986.)

Scope and Content

The Tradition Farms collection contains questionnaires and supplemental material of farms held by family members for one hundred or more years. Beginning in 1986 to the present, the program has continued to flourish in Kansas. The collection is composed of completed questionnaires, correspondence, and photocopied pictures and notes.

Two significant aspects of the collection pertain to the willingness of the farm families to share their experiences and the pride they have in being Kansas Tradition Farms members. A researcher wishing to pursue the subject would find substantial material relating to the “families’ times on the farm.”

Numerous situations seem to come to life from the papers. Droughts, grasshoppers, blizzards, and rattlesnakes seemed to be present in many of the scenarios. Yet, the Kansas farmers not only survived, but seemed to become more resilient from the experience. One example involved a young lady who was scalped by the Indians, survived the harrowing encounter, married, and had children.

Kansans have a special pride in their heritage. One farm family is a cousin to Jean Stratton Porter, the writer. Another farm family was a cousin to the late Walt Disney.

The questionnaires and supplemental material are arranged in alphabetical order with A-G in box 1, H-K in box 2, L-R in box 3, and S-Z in box 4. (There is a newspaper clipping pertaining to the project in box 1, folder 1.)

Contents List

Box List

Related Records and Collections

Appendix A: Alphabetical Listing of Owners of Tradition Farms Where County Is Unknown

Abrahamson, Roy

Allen, Duane and Sharon

Bartholomew, Kenneth

Beggs, Eugene V.

Bell, Phyllis

Bloomberg, Elton Edstal

Bortz, Mrs. Walter (Nellie)

Bourne, Mrs. B. A. (Dorothy R.)

Brownback, Judith West

Burns, Gene

Christiansen, Mrs. Arthur (Pauline Kubler)

Cole, Robert and Geraldine

Cooper, Lowell E.

Dettmer, Paul F.

DeVault, E. N.

Dodson, Carl E.

Dooley, Donald and Louise (Hyde)

Dresher, Howard S.

Ellis, Ray H. and Helen

Ellison, Elwyn D.

Farris, Eldon Eugene

Fisher, Fred R.

Forssberg, Keith Eugene and Patricia Ann Scollin

Freace, Charlotte

Gaines, Ada

Gilstrap, Alva Grace

Goebel, Emma

Gustafson, Carl M.

Hageman, Lewis

Hager, Mina Snook

Hain, Henry

Hancks, Elizabeth Howell

Harper, C. Wayne

Hathaway, Ralph and Beth

Hazen, Sterling Wyatt

Hemme, David Joseph

Hetzke, Susanne K.

Hill, Frances Shellito

Hommertzheim, Gerhard J.

Horchem, Chloe Scott

Horn, Robert L.

Hoskinson, Mrs. Cecil L.

Hoskinson, Lorene E.

Hulstine, Ivan E.

Humberg, Thomas and Carolyn Joan (Dirks)

Jenista, J. R.

Johnson, Mildred A.

Johnson, Lawrence W.

Johnson, Mrs. L. P.

Jory, Carol A.

Kaufman, Lorraine

Kilgore, Theron C.

Kinnamon, Wilbur

Kirkpatrick, Edward L.

Kirkwood, Arlyn

Koch, Joseph C.

Kolbeck, Ivan

Kolling, Henry M. and Phyllis I. (Long)

Kubin, Dale

Landgren, Marvin

Landis, Mrs. Samuel D.

Lanham, Edna G.

Leis, Norma

Lewis, Dorothy Ann

Loring, Glenn R.

Lucas, Daisy A.

Marken, Harland L.

Marte, P. Junior

Mast, Fred and Katie

Meseke, Arthur H.

Mueller, John and Nell

Mueller, Fay A. and Edith

Nelson, Mel

Newman, Sara Marie (Stielow)

Nichols, Wilma M. (Fuller)

Nikkel, Theodore P. and Helen

Norris, Dolores Louise (Klink)

Osborn, Neal

Ostberg, Ted A.

Peterson, Arden D.

Powers, Mrs. Aca (Hazel)

Raup, Rowland S.

Ricker, Mrs. Faye Edith (Corwin)

Riordan, Vincent J.

Sandberg, Mrs. T. W.

Sanders, John L. and Zelma G. (Tarr)

Schlochtermeier, Mrs. Pete (Susanne Dikes)

Schmidt, Mrs. Marion C.

Schmidt, Norman D.

Scott, Harold B.

Shields, Fred and Virginia

Skolout, Frank

Smith, William T. and Nellie E. (Cottrell)

Smith, Ronald and Marge

Soodsma, Vernon Dale

Sorem, James R., Jr., and Mary Joanne

Stadler, David G. and Phyllis B.

Steele, Dale

Stoughton, Ellis and Mary E.

Ten Eyck, Ralph and Juanita

Timberlake, Helen and Harry

Toothaker, Willis

Turner, William Leonard

Weihe, Genevieve M.

Wheaton, Dorothy L.

Wheeler, Norris E.

White, Ernest A.

Wiebe, Leland and Anna Lee

Wight, Albert

Wise, Norman Keith

Woodrow, Tyrell

Wright, Bill R.

Appendix B: Tradition Farms Listing by County

Additional Information for Researchers

Restrictions

None

Suggested Citation

The suggested citation form for this collection is:

[name of document], [date of document], [series, if applicable], Tradition Farms ms. collection, no. 216, State Archives & Library, Kansas Historical Society.

Series and folder designations are not necessary but often can help archivists locate materials more quickly.

An example of a specific citation:

Baldwin, Joe. File, box 1, Questionnaires and Supplemental Material, Tradition Farms ms. collection, no. 216, State Archives & Library, Kansas Historical Society.

Processed by

Patty Emmerich, Lela Barnes Intern, 1991

Related material

Kansas Farm Bureau has a similar program called "Century Farms." The farms they have recognized are listed on their website.

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