Texas Family Land Heritage Program

In 1974, the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) established the Family Land Heritage Program in order to honor families who have continuously operated Texas farms and ranches for at least 100 years. That same year, the TDA printed the first registry of honorees and hosted the first Family Land Heritage Day, during which the families received certificates by the Agricultural Commissioner. The program still continues, with new honorees accepted to the registry every year. Applicants submit a form with information about when the land was settled and by whom, how the applicant relates to the founder, information about the crops and buildings of the farm or ranch, historical significance of the land, and a brief family history. Supplemental documentation, such as deeds or photographs, is required to prove the founding year and the family ownership of the farm or ranch.

From the guide to the Texas Family Land Heritage Program Records 89-136., 1974, (Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin)

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