ApieceofMarshallCounty history was formally recognized this week when a local farm with deep roots received one of Oklahoma’s most respected agricultural honors. Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer Lynda Ozan announcedthatanOklahoma Centennial Farm award has been presented to Elizabeth Moore, owner of the Moore Family Homestead located in the vicinity of Madill.
The designation honors farms and ranches that have remained in the same family for at least 100 years, preserving both agricultural traditions and family legacies across generations. The Moore Family Homestead traces its beginnings to 1904, when Moore’s grandfather, William Lyles Moore, settled the land.
Since that time, the property hasremainedincontinuous family hands, producing wheat and alfalfa hay and contributing to the agricultural backbone of Marshall County. More than a century later, the land continues to be operated under family stewardship, a rare achievement in an era marked by consolidation and changing land ownership.
TheOklahomaCentennial Farm and Ranch Award recognizes properties that meet strict criteria designed to reflect both historical continuity and ongoing agricultural use. To qualify, a farm or ranch must have been occupied by the same family for at least 100 years and must still be operated, occupied or leased by a family member.
Thepropertymustinclude a minimum of 40 acres and generate at least $1,000 in gross annual sales, ensuring the land remains an active part of Oklahoma’s agricultural economy. The Centennial FarmandRanchAwards program was established 36 years ago through a partnership between the Oklahoma Historical Society and the OklahomaDepartmentofAgriculture, Food and Forestry.
The program was created to honor families who have demonstrated long-term dedication to farming and ranching while maintaining their land through periods of statehood, economic hardship, technological change and generational transition. Since its inception, the program has highlighted hundreds of farms and ranches statewide, though only two Centennial Farm awards have been granted in Marshall County, underscoring the significance of the Moore family’s recognition.
For local residents, the award serves as more than a plaque or certificate. It is a reminder of the enduring role family farms play in the county’s history and identity and of the perseverance required to sustain agricultural land for more than a century. As the Moore Family Homestead joins the ranks of Oklahoma’s Centennial Farms, it stands as a living link between Marshall County’s early settlement days and its present-day agricultural future.