Press Release
February 6, 2017
Contact: Shea J. Otley
State Historic Preservation Office, Oklahoma Historical Society
Office: 405-522-4485
sjotley@okhistory.org
www.okhistory.org/shpo
Garfield County Farm Owners Receive Centennial Farm Awards
OKLAHOMA CITY — Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer Melvena Heisch announced that Oklahoma Centennial Farm Awards have been presented to the owners of two Garfield County farms. Dennis and Wanda Fischer of Covington, Okla., own the Lohse/Fischer Farm located southwest of Covington. The family has grown wheat and canola since great-uncle Jasper Lohse settled the land in 1915.
Mark Fuksa of Highlands Ranch, Colo., owns the John and Mary Fuksa Family Farm located southwest of Bison. The family has grown wheat and canola and raised cattle since great-grandparents John and Mary Fuksa settled the land in 1916. The property also received the Historic Structures Award and has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
To qualify for a Centennial Farm or Ranch Award, a property must be owned by a family member for at least 100 years and must be operated or occupied by a family member or leased out by a family member over the age of 65. The property must include a minimum of 40 acres and gross annual sales of at least $1,000. The Oklahoma Historical Society and the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry have sponsored the Centennial Farm and Ranch Awards for 27 years, in which time 133 awards have been given in Garfield County.
For further information about the Centennial Farm and Ranch Program, please contact Shea J. Otley at 405-522-4485 or sjotley@okhistory.org.
The State Historic Preservation Office is a division of the Oklahoma Historical Society. The mission of the Oklahoma Historical Society is to collect, preserve and share the history and culture of the state of Oklahoma and its people. Founded in 1893 by members of the Territorial Press Association, the OHS maintains museums, historic sites and affiliates across the state. Through its research archives, exhibits, educational programs and publications the OHS chronicles the rich history of Oklahoma. For more information about the OHS, please visit www.okhistory.org.
