Two Centennial Farms & Ranches to be Honored by Montana Farmers Union

GREAT FALLS, MT (Oct. 25, 2006) – The Montana Farmers Union will honor two Montana farm and ranch families who have maintained their family’s homestead land in the family for the past one hundred years.

At the Montana Farmers Union’s 91^st Annual Meeting and Convention the Centennial Farm and Ranch recipients will be honored at the Saturday, October 28, 2006, President’s Banquet with special recognition and plaques.

Receiving the award on behalf of their families are:

Maalerud Martin Farm, Tampico, MT

Lillian Tischmak, Culbertson. Tischmak’s grandmother, Mary Christenson Harrington Maalerud, homesteaded in northeastern Montana, and is credited with founding the town of Tampico, near her homestead. Lillian Tischmak and her brother, Gary Martin of Glasgow, currently own the farm.

Rudie Farm and Ranch, Fairview, MT

Sigurd and Joyce Rudie, Fairview. Rudie’s great grandfather Eivind Nilssonn Rudi traveled from Norway to homestead seven miles west of Fairview in what was Dawson County at the time. In Norway farms were small – 5 to 10 acres – and now at age 23 he owned 160 acres in Montana. Sig and Joyce Rudie raise wheat, malt barley, oats, Angus cattle and sheep.

The Centennial Farm and Ranch Honors Program is unique to Montana Farmers Union. It began in the mid 1990s when MFU began recognizing agriculture producers whose land holdings have been in their family for 100 years or more. Every year that a MFU member reaches this milestone, they are honored during the annual convention. In addition, they receive a commemorative plaque and their stories and accomplishments are publicized statewide. The Montana Farmers Union is proud to introduce and honor these Montana farmers and ranchers.

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