Local families receive sesquicentennial Hoosier Homestead Award

Amanda York, Evening World
·3 min read
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Jeff and Connie Sands and Mary and David Young pose with their Hoosier Homestead Awards in front of a barn on the property, built around 1932, by Connie and Mary's grandfather Forrest Jordan and their father Marion Jordan.
Jeff and Connie Sands and Mary and David Young pose with their Hoosier Homestead Awards in front of a barn on the property, built around 1932, by Connie and Mary's grandfather Forrest Jordan and their father Marion Jordan.

In the spring of this year, two Owen County families — a couple of sisters and their immediate families — traveled to the Indiana Statehouse to receive a special honor.

Sisters Connie Sands and Mary Young and their respective families came together in Indianapolis to be presented with a Hoosier Homestead Award in recognition to their commitment to Indiana Agriculture.

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Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch and Indiana State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) Director Bruce Kettler presented 69 families in the state with awards.

“I always look forward to engaging with Indiana’s historic farming families during the Hoosier Homestead Award ceremonies,” Crouch said. “The longstanding values, dedication and resiliency these families will ensure their farm and family’s legacy live on for many generations.”

To be named a Hoosier Homestead, farms must be owned by the same family for more than 100 consecutive years, and consist of more than 20 acres. If less than 20 acres, the farm must produce more than $1,000 of agricultural products per year. Indiana farms may qualify for three honors: Centennial Award for 100 years of ownership, Sesquicentennial Award for 150 years of ownership and the Bicentennial Award for 200 years of ownership.

The Young and Sands families were presented sesquicentennial awards for their portions of the original Jordan farm.

According to Young, in 1824, Reuben Jordan, his family and others moved from Montgomery County, North Carolina, crossing the Ohio River near Madison, Ind.

Members of the Mary (Jordan) Young family attended the ceremony and are pictured alongside state officials. Those pictured include, front row, from left: Director Bruce Kettler, Amy Martin, Brandon Young, David Young, Mary (Jordan) Young and Raymond Jordan. Back row: State Representative Bob Heaton, Colby Young, Shelly Young, Jace Rogiers, Dina Rogiers, Marvin Martin and Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch.

Reuben originally settled six miles northwest of Spencer and later acquired 200 acres in Morgan Township in the Jordan Village area through land patents from the United States government. Jordan Village was named after Reuben Jordan's family.

Reuben Jordan had 13 children, nine of which were born in Owen County. One of these children was Joshua who was born on August 2, 1837 in Morgan Township. Joshua married Mary Carter on April 2, 1857. After serving in the Civil War, Joshua returned to Owen County.

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On November 6, 1869, Joshua, in partnership with Finch Carter, bought 80 acres in Morgan Township. On Dec. 29, 1871, Joshua bought out Finch and Sara Carter's interest in the 80 acres. Over the next 25 years, Joshua bought more land in Morgan and Montgomery Townships, ending up with a little over 149 contiguous acres.

Joshua passed away on April 4, 1903, leaving his farm to his heirs, including his son, Joshua Jordan II. Joshua II eventually acquired the entire farm from the other Jordan heirs.

Forrest Jordan, son of Charles Jordan, acquired the farm on March 27, 1920. He passed away on May 31, 1979, leaving the farm to Marion Jordan, his son. Marion Jordan passed away on October 12, 2005, leaving part of the original 80 acres plus another 40 acres of the farm to his daughters, Connie (Jordan) Sands and Mary (Jordan) Young. In 2007, Connie and Mary divided the land.

Members of the Connie (Jordan) Sands family attended the ceremony and are pictured alongside state officials. Those pictured include, front row, from left: Megan Langley, Gannon Holsapple, Kelby Holsapple, Kindra Holsapple and Connie (Jordan) Sands. Back row: Director Bruce Kettler, State Representative Bob Heaton, Keaton Langley, Sterling Langley, Ian Holsapple, Jeff Sands and Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch

Mary now owns part of the original 80 acres acquired in 1869, located in Morgan Township, and 40 acres acquired in 1883 located in Montgomery Township.

Seventh-generation grandsons are still working on the farm to this day, putting up hay.

“It is hard to put into words the value these farming families have provided to their communities, our state and the Indiana agricultural industry since the formation of their farms,” Kettler said. “It is my utmost pleasure to honor these longstanding families for their dedication to providing the feed, food and fuel necessary to sustain our state.”

This article originally appeared on Evening World: Local families receive sesquicentennial Hoosier Homestead Award