TIPPECANOE COUNTY, Ind. — The Meisenhelder-Jones farm has been the family business for more than 100 years.

In fact, the farm, located in Tippecanoe County, has been a family operation since 1859, an accomplishment worthy of a Hoosier Homestead Award. The Meisenhelder-Jones farm recently received the Sesquicentennial Award, noting its more than 150 years of operation.

Legislators across Indiana recently gathered with 56 Hoosier family farms to bestow this year's Hoosier Homestead Awards.

Family members of the The Meisenhelder-Jones farm were represented at the Statehouse celebration by state Sen. Ron Alting (R-Lafayette) and state Rep. Mark Genda (R-Frankfort), according to a news release.

Since its inception in 1976, the Hoosier Homestead Award Program has honored more than 5,800 farms throughout Indiana.

"It is wonderful to see our farmers in District 22 receive the credit they deserve," Alting said in the release. "Farms like the Meisenhelder-Jones farm are the backbone of Indiana's agriculture industry, which contributes an estimated $35.1 billion to the state's economy. Congratulations to the Mesienhelder-Jones farm for their hard work, and I wish them all the best going forward."

Hoosier Homestead farms must be owned by the same family for at least 100 consecutive years and be larger than 20 acres, the release stated, or produce more than $1,000 of agricultural products per year.

"Owning a farm for over 150 years is an impressive achievement that should be recognized and celebrated," Genda said. "These Hoosiers not only provide food to our state and country, but also support jobs and continue to drive our economy."

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Meisenhelder-Jones farm honored with Hoosier Homestead Award