This collection is open for research.
The materials in this collection are part of an ongoing internal transfer from Montana Historical Society Outreach and Education program.
Materials in this collection are arranged chronologically according to year of submission or induction; thereafter, alphabetically by applicant's last name or the name of the farm or ranch.
The 2009 Montana Legislature created the Montana Centennial Farm & Ranch Program to recognize and commemorate the agricultural traditions of Montana. Through this program, farm or ranch families that have owned or lived on their land for 100 years or more may be recognized for their contribution to Montana's history. The program's requirement include: proof of continuous ownership by members of the same family beginning with the founder and concluding with the present owner, spanning minimally 100 years, and proof of founding date, commonly through a deed and subsequent deeds. In order to quality, one current owner must be a Montana resident.
Applications are submitted to the Montana Historical Society where they must be approved by the Outreach & Education Office and the State Historic Preservation Office. Families whose applications are approved receive a letter of congratulations and a certificate. Once submitted, applications become part of the Montana Historical Society archival collection and are made available through the Research Center.
[Name of document or photograph number], Montana Centennial Farm & Ranch Program records, RS 480, [box and folder number]. Montana Historical Society, Library & Archives, Helena, Montana.
This collection (2010-2021) consists of application materials submitted for the Montana Centennial Farm & Ranch Program. Each file contains the original application and supporting material, such as copies of original deeds, family histories, copies of photographs, and other documentary evidence. Files also contain a copy of a letter of congratulation and a copy of the Certificate of Farm and Ranches, declaring the family farm a member of the program.
Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of the Montana Historical Society. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collection. In some cases, permission for use may require additional authorization from the copyright holders. For more information, contact the Montana Historical Society Library & Archives.
In 2024, the various collections of the Montana Historical Society were integrated under one collection identifier, RS 499, in order to help facilitate access, reduce redundancy in the MTHS catalog, and to follow best archival practices.
Collections from Montana Historical Society's Programs/Board that were previously treated
as separate entities are now integrated into
Future transfers of materials created under the Montana Centennial Farm & Ranch Program are expected every year.
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection