Family owned farms in Cambria County are more than just agricultural businesses—they represent a living heritage passed down through generations.

Recently, several Cambria County farms earned high honors as century farms, a distinction for properties held by one family for over 100 years.

Among them, the Simanski family of Washington Township proudly maintains farmland established in 1852, a tradition rooted in dairy and now transitioning to horse boarding.

Recognition as a century or bicentennial farm carries deep emotional weight for families, symbolizing decades of hard work, stewardship, and resilience.

To qualify, farms must remain in the same family for at least a century and retain historic land or achieve continued agricultural production.

The program also highlights shifting agricultural practices as families adapt—from dairy to crop or livestock—while holding on to their ancestral land.

Statewide, hundreds of properties have been recognized, but for those in Cambria County, these honors signify more than a plaque.

The awards ignite pride within the region and inspire neighbors to reflect on their own familial legacies tied to the land.

These family owned farms, some now bicentennial farms, serve as living links between present and past, constantly evolving yet unbroken in their connection to community and soil.