the only bicentennial farm in calvert county
farmed continuously
since 1801
Maryland Century Farm Historic Structures Award
On January 27, 2020 Governor Larry Hogan honored White Hall Farm as a Bicentennial Farm at the 2020 Century Farm ceremony at the Annapolis State House. White Hall also received the Maryland Century Farm Historic Structures Award. White Hall is the only Bicentennial Farm in Calvert County, and one of only a handful in the state. The farm has been in continuous operation since first established in 1801.
“Today is a celebration of agriculture, but it is also about families. By passing down farming as a way of life from generation to generation, each of our six honorees has played a significant role in continuing agriculture as the leading industry in Maryland,” said Governor Hogan. “We are incredibly grateful for all of our Maryland farms, and are proud to celebrate six very special farm families that represent the absolute best of Maryland agriculture.”
“Becoming a Maryland Century Farm is no small feat,” said Maryland Agriculture Secretary Joseph Bartenfelder. “This honor is the result of more than a hundred years of hard work, dedication, perseverance, and passion by the families recognized today and their loved ones that came before them. I cannot thank each Century Farm family enough for what they have done for Maryland agriculture and I congratulate them on this incredible milestone achievement.”
The Maryland Century Farm Program was established in 1994 by Governor William Donald Schaefer to recognize farms that have been in the same family for at least 100 consecutive years; contain a minimum of 10 acres of the original parcel, and have a gross annual income of $2,500 or more from the sale of farm products. The Century Farm Program honors families who have passed their farming operations down from generation to generation, making it possible for future stewards of the land to continue in their family tradition. The Hogan administration re-established this annual tradition in 2017 for Maryland farm families after it had been halted for 10 years.
Since the Century Farm Program began, 193 farms – about 1.5% of the state’s 12,429 farms – have received the Century Farm designation. Additionally, since the start of the program, 27 families have earned the Bicentennial Farm title for farming the same land for more than 200 years, and 4 families have been named Tricentennial Farms for farming the same land for more than 300 years.
