Family Land Heritage Program Application Logo
  • Family Land Heritage Program

  • The Texas Department of Agriculture’s (TDA) Family Land Heritage (FLH) Program honors farms and ranches that have been in continuous agricultural production by the same family for 100, 150 and 200 years.

    HOW TO APPLY FOR THE FAMILY LAND HERITAGE PROGRAM:

    • Read each rule on the following page carefully to ensure your property qualifies.
    • Gather supporting land ownership documents and background material.
    • Scan these materials. You will upload all supporting documents on the last page of the application.
    • Begin the application.
      • PLEASE ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS AS COMPLETELY AS POSSIBLE.
      • If additional space is needed, submit information on a separate document, giving the section and item number to which it corresponds.
    • Follow the instructions on the Program Story Form page to provide a brief history of your property and its owners.
      • Stories may either be typed into the field provided on the Program Story Form page or uploaded as a document on the last page of the application.
    • Upload at least one, but no more than six photographs of the property and/or its owners. These photographs may be reproduced for display or in the FLH registry.
      • Photographs are acceptable if they are high resolution files. Low resolution files of photographs are not acceptable.
      • A quick way to tell the resolution of a photograph is by the file size. Photographs larger than 1Mb are likely to be acceptable. Photographs smaller than 1Mb are not likely to be acceptable.
      • Be sure to include a caption with all uploaded photographs. Include the date, location, and names of any/all individuals in the caption field beneath the photographs.
      • Please use the caption field to indicate which photograph you prefer to be reproduced for FLH purposes.
      • The FLH program shall assume all rights to publish and/or reproduce any photograph submitted to TDA for the FLH Program. 
    • Download and complete all fields of the Certification Document located on the last page of the application.
    • Upload all supporting documents and background material to the last page of the application.
    • Select the "I HAVE NOT obtained the signature of the county judge and attached the document" option and then click "Submit."
    • An email confirming the submission of your application will be sent to the email address provided on the Primary Contact Information page.
      • Please keep this email. You will need the link provided in the email to edit your submission, if necessary, and to finish the application process.
      • A copy of your application will be attached to the confirmation email.
    • Print and submit the completed application, supporting documents, and the Certification Document to the county judge in the county where the farm or ranch is located.
      • The Certification Document MUST be signed by both the person completing the application and the county judge in the county where the farm or ranch is located.
    • Use the link provided in the confirmation email to access your application again.
    • Upload the SIGNED Certification Document to the last page of the application.
    • Select the "I  Agree" option and then click "Submit."
    • Another email confirming the submission of your application will be sent.
    • You're finished!
    • You will be notified whether the farm or ranch qualifies after your application is reviewed. If there are questions about the application, you may be required to provide additional documentation to support the statements.
    • There is no charge to apply for the program.

    TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

    FAMILY LAND HERITAGE PROGRAM
    P.O. BOX 12847, AUSTIN, TEXAS 78711-2847

    Phone: (512) 463-9885 or (800) TELL-TDA

    Internet Address: www.TexasAgriculture.gov

    For the hearing impaired: Relay Texas (800) 735-2988 (voice) or (800) 735-2989 (TTY)

    The information provided in this application may be subject to a public information request and thus may be made available to the public. Not only does an individual have the right, with few exceptions, to be informed about the information that a state agency collects about him and to receive and review such information, but the individual also has the right to ask the state agency to correct any information possessed by the state agency about the individual that is incorrect.  (Texas Government Code sections 552.021, 552.023, and 559.004)

  • PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING RULES CAREFULLY.

    DO NOT SUBMIT AN APPLICATION

     UNLESS ALL REQUIREMENTS ARE FULFILLED.

    Applications are accepted Dec. 1 – June 1 of each year.

     

    OWNERSHIP RULES
     

    1.      Farm or ranch owners must reside in Texas.

    2.      The line of ownership from the first family member owning the land to the current owner(s) may be through wives, husbands, children, grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles and cousins. Adopted children will be recognized equally with blood children. The line of ownership and dates must be clearly stated in the application and on the Land Ownership Timeline page.

    3.      Any land that has been sold or leased, or is in the process of being sold or leased to a non-relative is ineligible.

    4.      Owner or co-owner must actively manage and direct the everyday agricultural operation of the farm or ranch. Absentee ownership of land devoted only to hunting and timber leases or similar enterprise does not qualify for this program.

     

    AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION RULES
     

    1.      The land must meet the following old U.S. Census definition of a farm: 10 acres or more with agricultural sales of $50 or more a year; or if less than 10 acres, sales of at least $250 a year.

    2.      The land must have been agriculturally productive and owned by family members for 100, 150 or 200 years or more.

    3.      If all the land has ever been rented or leased to someone outside the family, it does not qualify.

    4.      If only a portion of the land was leased, and if as much as 10 acres was retained in the family for continuous agricultural production with sales of at least $50 annually, it will qualify.

     

    APPLICATION RULES
     

    1.      Please answer all questions on this application as applicable. If the application is unclear or incomplete, it could be returned to you for clarification.

    2.      Applications must be certified by the county judge in which the property is located. Supporting documents must be submitted with the application when appearing before the county judge. No notary is required. Final verification of the applicant’s admission in the FLH Program will be made by TDA.

    3.      TDA will provide one FLH certificate to each farm or ranch that is recognized. Additional certificates are available upon request for a fee (subject to availability).

    4.      Include information on all current owners and co-owners. Only the names of the current owners and co-owners residing in Texas will be listed in the FLH Program. If a co-owner of a property was not registered on a farm/ranch that qualifies, he or she may not re-apply.

    5.       Once a 100-year farm or ranch has been recognized, it will not qualify for another 100-year certificate even though the land may have changed hands. If family members have developed separate farms or ranches from the founder’s acreage and they meet all the program requirements, each property owner may apply separately for the program. For example, Hiram Johnson willed each of his three children a portion of his land and their descendants continue to farm or ranch separately. Each descendant’s farm or ranch can apply for the program.

    6.       If a farm or ranch has previously been recognized for 100 years and it still meets the requirements, owners can apply for it to be recognized again for reaching 150 and 200 years. A farm or ranch does not have to be recognized for 100 years to apply for the 150- and 200-year designation.

     

  • 2019 FAMILY LAND HERITAGE PROGRAM

  • Thank you for applying for the 2019 Family Land Heritage Program.  Please complete this form for the application review process.

  • The farm/ranch for which you are applying may not qualify for consideration in the Family Land Heritage Program. Please contact the program coordinator for clarification:

    Justin Rand

    (512) 463-9885

    Justin.Rand@TexasAgriculture.gov

     

  • SECTION I: History Of The Founder Of the Land

  •  - -
  • SECTION II: HISTORY OF SUCCEEDING GENERATIONS/OWNERS

  • The following questions must be answered for EACH OWNER of the land between the founder and the current owners. If we do not receive completed information on each succeeding owner, it will be necessary to return the application for completion. Select "Yes" to the "More Generations/Owners" question to create additional pages.

  • SECTION II: HISTORY OF SUCCEEDING GENERATIONS/OWNERS

  • SECTION II: HISTORY OF SUCCEEDING GENERATIONS/OWNERS

  • SECTION II: HISTORY OF SUCCEEDING GENERATIONS/OWNERS

  • SECTION II: HISTORY OF SUCCEEDING GENERATIONS/OWNERS

  • SECTION II: HISTORY OF SUCCEEDING GENERATIONS/OWNERS

  • SECTION II: HISTORY OF SUCCEEDING GENERATIONS/OWNERS

  • SECTION III: INFORMATION ABOUT THE PRESENT OWNER/CO-OWNERS OF THE LAND

    This page needs to be completed for each current owner and/or co-owner.
  • SECTION III:INFORMATION ABOUT THE PRESENT OWNER/CO-OWNERS OF THE LAND

  • SECTION III:INFORMATION ABOUT THE PRESENT OWNER/CO-OWNERS OF THE LAND

  • SECTION III:INFORMATION ABOUT THE PRESENT OWNER/CO-OWNERS OF THE LAND

  • SECTION III:INFORMATION ABOUT THE PRESENT OWNER/CO-OWNERS OF THE LAND

  • SECTION III:INFORMATION ABOUT THE PRESENT OWNER/CO-OWNERS OF THE LAND

  • SECTION III:INFORMATION ABOUT THE PRESENT OWNER/CO-OWNERS OF THE LAND

  • INFORMATION FOR THE FLH CERTIFICATE:

  • PRIMARY CONTACT INFORMATION:

  • Please complete the information below for the person who will be the primary contact to receive all correspondence regarding FLH.  It is this person’s responsibility to disseminate the information from TDA to the property’s co-owners.

  • LAND OWNERSHIP TIMELINE

    Please outline the history of the land, beginning with founder and ending with current owner.
  • Dates of Ownership Name Relationship to Current Owner
    1887-1918 Charles John Johnson Great-grandfather
    1918-1946 Edward and Clara (Johnson) Albers Grandfather and Grandmother
    1946-1986 Susan (Albers) Smith Mother
    1986-Present Bill and Valerie (Smith) Brown  
  • The above entry will appear in the Family Land Heritage Registry.

    Please make sure that it is completed correctly and that dates correspond to the application.

  • Program Story Form

  • Requirements: 

    • For inclusion in the commemorative program, please provide a brief history of your FLH property and its owners.
    • Due to space considerations, maximum length is 200 words
    • Please ensure all information matches that provided on the application.
    • A sample story can be found below.
    • Please follow the format below as close as possible.
    • TDA will edit all stories for spelling, grammar and proper word count. Every effort will be made to preserve your original story, but in some cases changes will be necessary.
    • Stories may be either typed into the "Story" field below or attached as a document to the last page of the application. Please indicate your selection below.
  • Sample Story

  • GIERHART FARM

    Wheeler County

    One mile west of Twitty on FM 592.

     

    Founded In: 1907

    Founder: Edson Byron Gierhart

    Current Owner: Milton Leroy Gierhart

     

    Edson Byron Gierhart was born in Jay County, Indiana. Edson traveled with his family from Indiana through Oklahoma to Wheeler County. On October 5, 1907, Edson acquired 160 acres from J.M. Shelton. He raised livestock, cotton, milo and wheat. Edson and his wife, Lucretia, had seven children – Milton Elbridge, Guy Balser, Zenobia Amelia, Clell Edson, Verna Primrose, Harold Macklin and Bonnie Catherine. They raised all seven children on the farm and had them schooled in Twitty and Shamrock. Edson’s parents lived next door to the family. 

     

    Lucretia acquired title to the land in 1944 after Edson died. She raised livestock, cotton, milo and wheat. In 1946 Milton Elbridge Gierhart acquired the land and continued to raise livestock, cotton, milo and wheat. Milton and his wife, Thelma, had two children,  Lucretia Inez and Milton Leroy. 

     

    Milton Leroy Gierhart acquired title to 80 acres of the land in 1981. He raised livestock, cotton, wheat and milo. Milton and his wife, Mildred, have one son, Milton Leroy II. The family has been active in the Wheeler Farm Service Agency and the Wheeler County Farm Bureau.

     

    Acres in original parcel: 160

    Crops or livestock raised: 1907 — Livestock, cotton, milo and wheat; 2007 — Wheat.

     

    As told by Milton Leroy Gierhart, grandson of the founder. 

     

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  • Photos of the Property

  • Instructions:

    Please upload up to Six photos of the property and/or owners below. For each photo, please be sure to include captions for the corresponding photo directly below the upload button.

     

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  • Certification Document

    (Last Page)
  • DOWNLOAD THE CERTIFICATION DOCUMENT HERE

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