User:A.b 2007123/Historic family farms of Licking County, Ohio: Difference between revisions

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There are twenty-nine farms within [[Licking County, Ohio|Licking County]] that have been designated as historic family farms by the Ohio Historic Family Farm Program. Licking County was once a top producer of agriculture within [[Ohio]] in the 1800s. Today many of these historic farms face pressure to sell their farms and land. [[Licking County, Ohio|Licking County]] ranks 11th out of 88 counties in [[Ohio]] for products sold. These farms have [[Sustainable agriculture|sustainable farming]] practices and provide cultural importance to the community.

There are twenty-nine farms within [[Licking County, Ohio|Licking County]] that have been designated as historic family farms by the Ohio Historic Family Farm Program. Licking County was once a top producer of agriculture within [[Ohio]] in the 1800s. Today many of these historic farms face pressure to sell their farms and land. [[Licking County, Ohio|Licking County]] ranks 11th out of 88 counties in [[Ohio]] for products sold. These farms have [[Sustainable agriculture|sustainable farming]] practices and provide cultural importance to the community.

== Background ==

== Background ==

=== Historic Family Farm Program ===

=== Historic Family Farm Program ===

The Ohio Historic Family Farm program is a program that recognizes families who have consecutively owned and farmed their land. There are three designations that are offered by the program, Century Farm (100-149 years), Sesquintensical Farms (150-199 years), Bicenturral Farms (200 and more years).<ref name=”:7″ /> The program started in 1993 and honored eight farms each year but since then the program has changed over time to include more farms with different designations.To be approved into Ohio’s Historic Family Farms Program, certain requirements must be met.<ref name=”:7″ /> For example, ten or more acres of land must be used for agricultural use. If the farm is under ten acres, $2500 of income must be produced yearly .<ref name=”:7″ /> The owners also must provide an 8.5×11 inch map and a current photograph of the farm.<ref name=”:7″ /> Family records must be shown which can be verified and prove that the farm has been within 100 years of consecutive ownership by the family. <ref name=”:7″ /> Once a farm has received this designation, the family must continue to farm the land to stay a Historic Family Farm.<ref name=”:7″>{{Cite web |title=Ohio’s Historic Family Farms Program |url=https://agri.ohio.gov/programs/farmland-preservation-office/ohio-historic-family-farms/Ohios-Historic-Family-Farms-Program |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250616025050/https://agri.ohio.gov/programs/farmland-preservation-office/ohio-historic-family-farms/Ohios-Historic-Family-Farms-Program |archive-date=2025-06-16 |access-date=2025-10-07 |website=agri.ohio.gov |language=en}}</ref>

The Ohio Historic Family Farm program is a program that recognizes families who have consecutively owned and farmed their land. There are three designations that are offered by the program, Century Farm (100-149 years), Sesquintensical Farms (150-199 years), Bicenturral Farms (200 and more years).<ref name=”:7″ /> The program started in 1993 and honored eight farms each year but since then the program has changed over time to include more farms with different designations.To be approved into Ohio’s Historic Family Farms Program, certain requirements must be met.<ref name=”:7″ /> For example, ten or more acres of land must be used for agricultural use. If the farm is under ten acres, $2500 of income must be produced yearly .<ref name=”:7″ /> The owners also must provide an 8.5×11 inch map and a current photograph of the farm.<ref name=”:7″ /> Family records must be shown which can be verified and prove that the farm has been within 100 years of consecutive ownership by the family. <ref name=”:7″ /> Once a farm has received this designation, the family must continue to farm the land to stay a Historic Family Farm.<ref name=”:7″>{{Cite web |title=Ohio’s Historic Family Farms Program |url=https://agri.ohio.gov/programs/farmland-preservation-office/ohio-historic-family-farms/Ohios-Historic-Family-Farms-Program |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250616025050/https://agri.ohio.gov/programs/farmland-preservation-office/ohio-historic-family-farms/Ohios-Historic-Family-Farms-Program |archive-date=2025-06-16 |access-date=2025-10-07 |website=agri.ohio.gov |language=en}}</ref>

=== Licking County Farming in the 1800’s ===

=== Licking County Farming in the 1800’s ===

[[Agriculture]] has been [[Licking County, Ohio|Licking County’]]<nowiki/>s top industry and was constantly developing and the formation of the [[Licking County, Ohio|Licking County]] Agricultural Society in 1832, and the formation of the [[Ohio]] and [[Erie Canal]] helped boost agriculture in [[Licking County, Ohio|Licking County]] during the 1800s Many different personal accounts discuss the popularity of farming within this time period and also discuss the success many farmers had. <ref name=”:1″ /> They benefited from easier access to markets via [[Rail transport|railroads]] and different companies would supply tools to local farmers<ref name=”:0″>{{Cite web |title=OHIO GENEALOGY EXPRESS – Licking Co., Ohio – Biographies |url=https://ohiogenealogyexpress.com/licking/lickingco_bios_1909/lickingco_bios_1909_m.htm |access-date=2025-10-07 |website=ohiogenealogyexpress.com}}</ref>. In the later end of the 1800s [[Licking County, Ohio|Licking County]] was in the top ten producers of counties within [[Ohio]] for agricultural production.<ref name=”:1″ /> By 1870, 2,692 farms with 278,611 improved acres were owned by farmers within [[Licking County, Ohio|Licking County]]; all of these helped account for $3,500,000 in production.<ref name=”:1″ /> [[Licking County, Ohio|Licking County]] ranked very high within the state of [[Ohio]] in production of corn, wheat and oats while also leading the state in wool production. <ref name=”:1″ /> By 1887, 150,000 acres of designated pasture land was readily available and [[Licking County, Ohio|Licking County]] ranked first in [[Ohio]] with over 174,000 sheep within the county.<ref name=”:1″>{{Cite web |title=Licking County Agriculture |url=https://theclio.com/entry/102493 |access-date=2025-10-07 |website=Clio |language=en}}</ref>

[[Agriculture]] has been [[Licking County, Ohio|Licking County’]]<nowiki/>s top industry and was constantly developing and the formation of the [[Licking County, Ohio|Licking County]] Agricultural Society in 1832, and the formation of the [[Ohio]] and [[Erie Canal]] helped boost agriculture in [[Licking County, Ohio|Licking County]] during the 1800s Many different personal accounts discuss the popularity of farming within this time period and also discuss the success many farmers had. <ref name=”:1″ /> They benefited from easier access to markets via [[Rail transport|railroads]] and different companies would supply tools to local farmers<ref name=”:0″>{{Cite web |title=OHIO GENEALOGY EXPRESS – Licking Co., Ohio – Biographies |url=https://ohiogenealogyexpress.com/licking/lickingco_bios_1909/lickingco_bios_1909_m.htm |access-date=2025-10-07 |website=ohiogenealogyexpress.com}}</ref>. In the later end of the 1800s [[Licking County, Ohio|Licking County]] was in the top ten producers of counties within [[Ohio]] for agricultural production.<ref name=”:1″ /> By 1870, 2,692 farms with 278,611 improved acres were owned by farmers within [[Licking County, Ohio|Licking County]]; all of these helped account for $3,500,000 in production.<ref name=”:1″ /> [[Licking County, Ohio|Licking County]] ranked very high within the state of [[Ohio]] in production of corn, wheat and oats while also leading the state in wool production. <ref name=”:1″ /> By 1887, 150,000 acres of designated pasture land was readily available and [[Licking County, Ohio|Licking County]] ranked first in [[Ohio]] with over 174,000 sheep within the county.<ref name=”:1″>{{Cite web |title=Licking County Agriculture |url=https://theclio.com/entry/102493 |access-date=2025-10-07 |website=Clio |language=en}}</ref>

== Licking County Farming in the 21st Century ==

== Licking County Farming in the 21st Century ==

[[File:Rural Franklin Township, Licking County.JPG|thumb|Image representing Licking County farms in the 2000’s. Image displays the unique hills Licking County has. Representation of how farms are still rural]]

As of recent decades, 29 farms in [[Licking County, Ohio|Licking County]] are a part of the Ohio’s Historic Family Farms program, which recognizes farms owned continuously by the same family for over 100 years <ref name=”:2″>{{Cite web |date=2021-06-18 |title=National Register of Historic Places Registration Form |url=https://www.ohiohistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/SG100006649-CurryFarm-Licking-County.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://www.ohiohistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/SG100006649-CurryFarm-Licking-County.pdf |access-date=2025-10-2 |website=www.ohiohistory.org |language=en}}</ref><ref name=”:3″>{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Delaney |date=2025-07-29 |title=Ohio’s Historic Family Farms program preserves state’s agricultural heritage and history of its top industry |url=https://www.thereportingproject.org/ohios-historic-family-farms-program-preserve-states-agricultural-heritage-and-history-of-its-top-industry/ |access-date=2025-10-07 |website=The Reporting Project – Covering Licking County, Ohio |language=en-US}}</ref>. Despite their historic recognition, many historic families are facing pressure to sell their farms due to increased [[urbanization]] and commercial growth in areas such as [[New Albany, Ohio|New Albany]]. Rising land values with frequent offers from developers encourage farmers to sell their land for commercial or residential use. The increasing [[urbanization]] and development threaten the preservation of a family’s historic farm.<ref name=”:3″ />

As of recent, 29 farms in [[Licking County, Ohio|Licking County]] are a part of the Ohio’s Historic Family Farms program, which recognizes farms owned continuously by the same family for over 100 years <ref name=”:2″>{{Cite web |date=2021-06-18 |title=National Register of Historic Places Registration Form |url=https://www.ohiohistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/SG100006649-CurryFarm-Licking-County.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://www.ohiohistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/SG100006649-CurryFarm-Licking-County.pdf |access-date=2025-10-2 |website=www.ohiohistory.org |language=en}}</ref><ref name=”:3″>{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Delaney |date=2025-07-29 |title=Ohio’s Historic Family Farms program preserves state’s agricultural heritage and history of its top industry |url=https://www.thereportingproject.org/ohios-historic-family-farms-program-preserve-states-agricultural-heritage-and-history-of-its-top-industry/ |access-date=2025-10-07 |website=The Reporting Project – Covering Licking County, Ohio |language=en-US}}</ref>. Despite their historic recognition, many historic families are facing pressure to sell their farms due to increased [[urbanization]] and commercial growth in areas such as [[New Albany, Ohio|New Albany]]. Rising land values with frequent offers from developers encourage farmers to sell their land for commercial or residential use. The increasing [[urbanization]] and development threaten the preservation of a family’s historic farm.<ref name=”:3″ />

Through time these farms have made changes. In the 19th century, [[Licking County, Ohio|Licking County]] farms produced a variety of crops like corn, oats and wheat along with livestock like cattle, chickens, pigs and lambs. Farms relied on labor intensive methods of farming, using crop ration and manual manure spreading to keep the soil fertile. <ref name=”:1″ /><ref name=”:2″ />. Nowadays, [[Licking County, Ohio|Licking County]] is focused on large-scale production of grains and [[Vegetable oil|oilseeds]], in particular corn and soybeans, which accounted for two-thirds of the county’s agricultural sales in 2017, according to the USDA Census of Agriculture<ref name=”:4″>{{Cite web |date=2017 |title=Census of Agriculture County Profile: Licking County |url=https://www.nass.usda.gov/Publications/AgCensus/2017/Online_Resources/County_Profiles/Ohio/cp39089.pdf |url-status=live |website=USDA.gov |language=en}}</ref>. In response to the recent economic pressure many historic farming families have reduced active cultivation for conservation purposes or limited use. <ref name=”:2″ /><ref name=”:3″ />. Modern agricultural methods involve chemicals and mechanization supporting a shift from traditional to modern farming practices <ref name=”:2″ />. Despite these changes and pressure, the majority of [[Licking County, Ohio|Licking County]] farms are still family-owned, in 2017 99% of farms in the County were registered as family owned, according to the USDA Census.

Through time these farms have made changes. In the 19th century, [[Licking County, Ohio|Licking County]] farms produced a variety of crops like corn, oats and wheat along with livestock like cattle, chickens, pigs and lambs. Farms relied on labor intensive methods of farming, using crop ration and manual manure spreading to keep the soil fertile. <ref name=”:1″ /><ref name=”:2″ />. Nowadays, [[Licking County, Ohio|Licking County]] is focused on large-scale production of grains and [[Vegetable oil|oilseeds]], in particular corn and soybeans, which accounted for two-thirds of the county’s agricultural sales in 2017, according to the USDA Census of Agriculture<ref name=”:4″>{{Cite web |date=2017 |title=Census of Agriculture County Profile: Licking County |url=https://www.nass.usda.gov/Publications/AgCensus/2017/Online_Resources/County_Profiles/Ohio/cp39089.pdf |url-status=live |website=USDA.gov |language=en}}</ref>. In response to the recent economic pressure many historic farming families have reduced active cultivation for conservation purposes or limited use. <ref name=”:2″ /><ref name=”:3″ />. Modern agricultural methods involve chemicals and mechanization supporting a shift from traditional to modern farming practices <ref name=”:2″ />. Despite these changes and pressure, the majority of [[Licking County, Ohio|Licking County]] farms are still family-owned, in 2017 99% of farms in the County were registered as family owned, according to the USDA Census.

=== Licking County Historic Family Farms List. ===

=== Licking County Historic Family Farms List. ===

As of 2017 the USDA Census of Agriculture, [[Licking County, Ohio|Licking County]] had 1,583 farms covering 220,486 acres <ref name=”:4″ />. The average farm size is 139 acres with 99% of farms classified as family-owned rather than corporations or institutions<ref name=”:4″ />.

As of 2017 the USDA Census of Agriculture, [[Licking County, Ohio|Licking County]] had 1,583 farms covering 220,486 acres <ref name=”:4″ />. The average farm size is 139 acres with 99% of farms classified as family-owned rather than corporations or institutions<ref name=”:4″ />.

The Farm operators are also known as producers, they have a narrow demographic profile. Of the total 4,843 producers 99% identify themselves as white; only five producers identify as Black/African American, three as American Indian/Native, seven as Asian and only nine identify as Latino or Spanish origins<ref name=”:4″ /> .

The Farm operators are also known as producers, they have a narrow demographic profile. Of the total 4,843 producers 99% identify themselves as white; only five producers identify as Black/African American, three as American Indian/Native, seven as Asian and only nine identify as Latino or Spanish origins<ref name=”:4″ /> .

In terms of gender, 3,056 producers were male with 1,787 identified as female. The average age was 56.8 years old<ref name=”:4″ />. In terms of specialization, 594 farms are primarily in the production of grains and [[Vegetable oil|oilseeds]]. In terms of livestock, 245 farms are for beef cattle and 170 reporting dairy cattle and calves, totaling 18.172 head in [[Licking County, Ohio|Licking County]]. In addition, 147 farms identify to raise hogs and pigs, with 86 farms reported to have lying hens<ref name=”:4″ /><ref name=”:5″ />.

In terms of gender, 3,056 producers were male with 1,787 identified as female. The average age was 56.8 years old<ref name=”:4″ />. In terms of specialization, 594 farms are primarily in the production of grains and [[Vegetable oil|oilseeds]]. In terms of livestock, 245 farms are for beef cattle and 170 reporting dairy cattle and calves, totaling 18.172 head in [[Licking County, Ohio|Licking County]]. In addition, 147 farms identify to raise hogs and pigs, with 86 farms reported to have lying hens<ref name=”:4″ /><ref name=”:5″ />.

[[Licking County, Ohio|Licking County]] ranked 11th among the 88 counties in [[Ohio]] in the total market value of agricultural products sold. In 2017 the reported agricultural sales from [[Licking County, Ohio|Licking County]] totaled to $185,397,000<ref name=”:4″ />.

[[Licking County, Ohio|Licking County]] ranked 11th among the 88 counties in [[Ohio]] in the total market value of agricultural products sold. In 2017 the reported agricultural sales from [[Licking County, Ohio|Licking County]] totaled to $185,397,000<ref name=”:4″ />.

== Overall Impact ==

== Overall Impact ==

Many of these historic farms have begun to embrace sustainable farming practices. Historic farms in Ohio are leading the push to sustainable agriculture through [[No-till farming|No Till Farming]] and [[Cover crop|Cover Cropping]]. Additionally these farms have been adopting [[Precision agriculture|Precision Agriculture]] to maximize efficiency and minimize environmental impact. Licking county specifically has also seen the sustainable practices of conservation tillage and [[integrated pest management]]<ref name=”:6″>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-01 |title=Ohio Century Farms: Livestock, Crops & Tapestry Legacy |url=https://farmonaut.com/usa/century-farms-in-ohio-5-ways-they-preserve-agricultural-legacy |access-date=2025-10-02 |language=en-GB}}</ref>.

Many of these historic farms have begun to embrace sustainable farming practices. Historic farms in Ohio are leading the push to sustainable agriculture through [[No-till farming|No Till Farming]] and [[Cover crop|Cover Cropping]]. Additionally these farms have been adopting [[Precision agriculture|Precision Agriculture]] to maximize efficiency and minimize environmental impact. Licking county specifically has also seen the sustainable practices of conservation tillage and [[integrated pest management]]<ref name=”:6″>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-01 |title=Ohio Century Farms: Livestock, Crops & Tapestry Legacy |url=https://farmonaut.com/usa/century-farms-in-ohio-5-ways-they-preserve-agricultural-legacy |access-date=2025-10-02 |language=en-GB}}</ref>.

== Bibliography ==

* “Biographies, Centennial History of City of Newark and Licking County, Ohio.” ”Ohio Genealogy Express – Licking Co., Ohio – Biographies”, The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 2008, ohiogenealogyexpress.com/licking/lickingco_bios_1909/lickingco_bios_1909_m.htm<ref name=”:0″ />.

** This source offers the Biographies of many of Licking counties farmers from the 19th century to the early 20th century. The source will bring you to all farmers whose last names begin with an M, however you can access all of the farmers by clicking through the alphabetical list. There are hundreds of different accounts of the agricultural work done by these individuals as well as their backstories and their families backstories. The stories revolve around Licking County however not all of these farmers worked exclusively in Licking County. Many of these stories not only reflect the farming life in Licking County but also how these families came to farm in Licking County. The quality of the source is very good and reputable as it is published by a publishing company in Ohio which had direct ties to Licking county.The information in this source is very valuable as it provides the actual stories of farmers in Licking county and can add depth to what historic farmers in Licking County dealt with.

* Brown, D. (2025, August 3). ”Ohio’s historic family farms program preserves state’s agricultural heritage and history of its top industry”. The Reporting Project – Covering Licking County, Ohio. <nowiki>https://www.thereportingproject.org/ohios-historic-family-farms-program-preserve-states-agricultural-heritage-and-history-of-its-top-industry/</nowiki>.<ref name=”:3″ />

** This source is a report that gives an overarching overview of Ohio’s historic family farms focusing on the ones within licking county. It describes how the Ohio Historic Family Farm program is a program created in 1993 that helps recognize and honor families who have been running their respective farms for 100 years continuously. Within Licking county it was counted that 65 different farms have been owned for a century by the same family and 26 have also been inducted into the aforementioned Historic Family Farms Program. The article mentions that to qualify for the program owners must complete a form and show proof of family records.  Many farms have now been pressured to sell their land but most refuse and still farm on the same land. This source is reliable as it is a reporting project that was published and looked over. This source helps generate notability as it is part of a six piece paper showing that people within the community care about these farms and do reports on them. This information is very valuable as it provides background information on farming within Ohio as well as the criteria to be considered an historic farm. This article also gives personal information about some of the farms which could be useful if we go more in depth with individual farms.

* “Licking County Ohio.” ”County Profile Licking County Ohio”, Census of Agriculture, 2017, www.nass.usda.gov/Publications/AgCensus/2017/Online_Resources/County_Profiles/Ohio/cp39089.pdf.<ref name=”:4″ />

** This source provides statistics and demographics to the Licking county farms. It shows Licking counties ranking with items produced and provides racial as well as other demographics to these farms. The source comes directly from the Census of Agriculture. This will help our article with statistics and demographics necessary to understanding family owned farms in Licking County

* “List of Ohio’s Historic Family Farms.” ”Ohio.gov”, 2018, agri.ohio.gov/programs/farmland-preservation-office/resources/historic-family-farms-search.<ref name=”:5″ />

** This source has a full list of every single farm in Ohio that is deemed to be a historic family farm. We will be focusing in on the Licking County farms in particular and We will be listing those in the Farms today section. This list shows the 29 Licking County Farms that are deemed historic.

* “Ohio Century Farms: Livestock, Crops & Tapestry Legacy.” ”Farmonaut®”, 17 June 2025, farmonaut.com/usa/century-farms-in-ohio-5-ways-they-preserve-agricultural-legacy. <ref name=”:6″ />

** This source shows how Licking County’s historical farms are modernising and becoming more sustainable. This can help with our articles’ notability, as sustainability in farms has become a major talking point in US politics. Additionally, the source provides information on how precision agriculture works. This source helps the overall article on how these historic farms are changing to adapt with modern times.

* The Works: Ohio Center for History, Art, and Technology. “Licking County Agriculture.” Clio: Your Guide to History. May 14, 2020. Accessed October 1, 2025. <nowiki>https://theclio.com/entry/102493</nowiki><ref name=”:1″ />

** This source provides great background information on the history of agriculture within Licking County. It mentions how it has always been Licking County’s biggest industry due to its rich and fertile soil. The article also states that by 1870 licking county farmers owned almost three thousand farms with almost 300,000 acres worth of land which in turn produced large amounts of money and goods. This source seems to be reliable as on the website it shows that it has been through different reversions to become as accurate as possible. This source helps establish notability as it shows people are willing to write and learn about licking county farming as it was very popular in the eighteen hundreds and was one of Ohio’s top producers in agriculture. This information is valuable to our article as it allows us to provide background information on why there are so many different family farms within Licking County and it also allows us to make comparisons between the amount of farms today to then.

* United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service, & State Historic Preservation Office, O. H. C. (2021). National Register of Historic Places Registration Form. In ”National Register of Historic Places” [National Register of Historic Places Registration Form]. <nowiki>https://www.ohiohistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/SG100006649-CurryFarm-Licking-County.pdf</nowiki>.<ref name=”:2″ />

** The Curry Farm, a multigenerational family farm in Licking County, was formally added to the National Register of Historic Places. This nomination form is thorough and contains a lot of supporting documentation. The farm’s history is described, including how it began in the 1800s, how the Leamon and Curry families came to own it, and how important it was to the local sheep trade. The Greek Revival farmhouse and a number of outbuildings are among the things of the property that are described in the document and support its historic designation. The use of this source will be helpful in sections that highlight specific examples of historic family farms in the county. Can support claims about the types of farms that are accepted, the conditions they must meet, and the ways in which the NRHP (National Register of Historic places) process protects personal histories.

== References ==

== References ==

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There are twenty-nine farms within Licking County that have been designated as historic family farms by the Ohio Historic Family Farm Program^[1]. Licking County was once a top producer of agriculture within Ohio in the 1800s^[2][3]. Today many of these historic farms face pressure to sell their farms and land^[4]. Licking County ranks 11th out of 88 counties in Ohio for products sold^[5]. These farms have sustainable farming practices and provide cultural importance to the community^[6].

Background

Historic Family Farm Program

The Ohio Historic Family Farm program is a program that recognizes families who have consecutively owned and farmed their land^[2]. There are three designations that are offered by the program, Century Farm (100-149 years), Sesquintensical Farms (150-199 years), Bicenturral Farms (200 and more years).^[2] The program started in 1993 and honored eight farms each year but since then the program has changed over time to include more farms with different designations^[2].To be approved into Ohio’s Historic Family Farms Program, certain requirements must be met.^[2] For example, ten or more acres of land must be used for agricultural use. If the farm is under ten acres, $2500 of income must be produced yearly .^[2] The owners also must provide an 8.5×11 inch map and a current photograph of the farm.^[2] Family records must be shown which can be verified and prove that the farm has been within 100 years of consecutive ownership by the family. ^[2] Once a farm has received this designation, the family must continue to farm the land to stay a Historic Family Farm.^[2]

Licking County Farming in the 1800’s

Agriculture has been Licking County’s top industry and was constantly developing and the formation of the Licking County Agricultural Society in 1832, and the formation of the Ohio and Erie Canal helped boost agriculture in Licking County during the 1800s Many different personal accounts discuss the popularity of farming within this time period and also discuss the success many farmers had. ^[6] They benefited from easier access to markets via railroads and different companies would supply tools to local farmers^[7]. In the later end of the 1800s Licking County was in the top ten producers of counties within Ohio for agricultural production.^[6] By 1870, 2,692 farms with 278,611 improved acres were owned by farmers within Licking County; all of these helped account for $3,500,000 in production.^[6] Licking County ranked very high within the state of Ohio in production of corn, wheat and oats while also leading the state in wool production. ^[6] By 1887, 150,000 acres of designated pasture land was readily available and Licking County ranked first in Ohio with over 174,000 sheep within the county.^[6]

Licking County Farming in the 21st Century

As of recent, 29 farms in Licking County are a part of the Ohio’s Historic Family Farms program, which recognizes farms owned continuously by the same family for over 100 years ^[8][4]. Despite their historic recognition, many historic families are facing pressure to sell their farms, due to increased urbanization and commercial growth in areas such as New Albany^[4]. Rising land values with frequent offers from developers encourage farmers to sell their land for commercial or residential use^[4]. The increasing urbanization and development threaten the preservation of a family’s historic farm.^[4]

Through time these farms have made changes. In the 19th century, Licking County farms produced a variety of crops like corn, oats and wheat along with livestock like cattle, chickens, pigs and lambs^[6]. Farms relied on labor intensive methods of farming, using crop ration and manual manure spreading to keep the soil fertile. ^[6][8]. Nowadays, Licking County is focused on large-scale production of grains and oilseeds, in particular corn and soybeans, which accounted for two-thirds of the county’s agricultural sales in 2017, according to the USDA Census of Agriculture^[5]. In response to the recent economic pressure many historic farming families have reduced active cultivation for conservation purposes or limited use. ^[8][4]. Modern agricultural methods involve chemicals and mechanization supporting a shift from traditional to modern farming practices ^[8]. Despite these changes and pressure, the majority of Licking County farms are still family-owned, in 2017 99% of farms in the County were registered as family owned, according to the USDA Census^[5].

Licking County Historic Family Farms List.

Below is a list of all 29 family farms, as of August 5th 2025 by The Ohio Department of Agriculture. List ordered by Family last name^[1]:

Demographics and Statistics

As of 2017 the USDA Census of Agriculture, Licking County had 1,583 farms covering 220,486 acres ^[5]. The average farm size is 139 acres with 99% of farms classified as family-owned rather than corporations or institutions^[5].

The Farm operators are also known as producers, they have a narrow demographic profile^[5]. Of the total 4,843 producers 99% identify themselves as white; only five producers identify as Black/African American, three as American Indian/Native, seven as Asian and only nine identify as Latino or Spanish origins^[5] .

In terms of gender, 3,056 producers were male with 1,787 identified as female^[5]. The average age was 56.8 years old^[5]. In terms of specialization, 594 farms are primarily in the production of grains and oilseeds^[5]. In terms of livestock, 245 farms are for beef cattle and 170 reporting dairy cattle and calves, totaling 18.172 head in Licking County^[1][5]. In addition, 147 farms identify to raise hogs and pigs, with 86 farms reported to have lying hens^[5][1].

Licking County ranked 11th among the 88 counties in Ohio in the total market value of agricultural products sold^[5]. In 2017 the reported agricultural sales from Licking County totaled to $185,397,000^[5].

Overall Impact

Many of these historic farms have begun to embrace sustainable farming practices^[3]. Historic farms in Ohio are leading the push to sustainable agriculture through No Till Farming and Cover Cropping^[3]. Additionally these farms have been adopting Precision Agriculture to maximize efficiency and minimize environmental impact^[3]. Licking county specifically has also seen the sustainable practices of conservation tillage and integrated pest management^[3].

Licking counties historic farms are considered culturally important to the communities in the county. These farms have long standing heritage and 99% are still family owned compared to 87% of farms being family owned in Ohio^[4][5]. This is predicted to change in the future^[5]. Family farms have begun to face increased economic difficulties in the county and subsequently farmers are forced to work other jobs^[4]. Due to the growth of the Columbus area in recent years, many of these farms are considering selling land^[4]. Additionally many of these family farms cannot find family members to inherit these farms and are at risk of losing their Historic Family Farm status^[4][5].

References