Carnegie Historical Museum to feature Graf farm

The Carnegie Historical Museum has announced the Century Farm of the month for August 2024: the farm owned by Dolores Irma Graf Poulter Wilson.

This farm has been in the family for 160 years. The Graf farm is located in Lockridge Township east of Four Corners on Yellowpine Avenue. The family first purchased 40 acres of farm land in 1865.

The Graf Farm is a Heritage Farm. The Graf family story begins when the Great-Great-Grandfather Henry Graf purchased 40 acres on June 15, 1865. Next in line was Great-Grandfather John Graf, followed by Grandfather Charles Graf and Grandmother Margaret Graf.

Delores Irma Graf Poulter Wilson has taken over the ownership of this family heritage farm. When we started this project there were 14 Heritage (150 years in the same family) in Jefferson County. Currently the farm totals 80 acres.

This is the twenty-eighth-month that the Carnegie Historical Museum has been highlighting the farms in Jefferson County which have been recognized by the Iowa Farm Bureau as being in the same family for 100 or 150 years plus. It is our plan to carry this forward into 2025, and recognize those farms which have received this Heritage or Century Farm status at the state level.

We would like to continue this program with a new chapter by beginning to highlight those farms which have been in the same family ownership for 50 years or more. Please contact Jake Schmidt at the Carnegie Historical Museum at 641-472-6343 to learn more about this next chapter of our counties farming history.

The Fairfield First Friday on August 2, 2024 beginning at 6:00 p.m. will allow interested patrons of the Museum to come and view the new display of the Graf farm. A video-taping with family members will begin at 6:00 p.m.

A dedicated display case will be available for viewing on the third floor of the museum for the month of August. The public is welcome to attend and meet the family at that time. Please take time to come and learn about the history of these farms and what they mean to Jefferson County, Iowa.