Ag commish makes visit to recognize farm as the 15th designated locally

PINE HILL-Tennessee Commissioner of Agriculture Dr. Charlie Hatcher recently visited Clay County’s latest Century Farm to recognize the Wilkerson family for farming the same land for over 100 years.

Located here in the west end of the county, the Wilkersons’ Pine Hill Farms was recently added to the list of 15 local farms recognized since the inception of the Tennessee Farms Program, and they were also recognized earlier this summer at the Annual Clay County Century Farms Dinner.

Pine Hill Farms, established in 1923 when Earl Hance Wilkerson purchased 25 acres in the Pine Hill community, was one of 54 farms from across the state recognized by the program in 2023.

According to a summary of the farm’s history found at Facebook.com/tncenturyfarms, the founder added several tracts to the farm over the next 30 years, until the farm had grown to 328 acres. He and his wife, Stella Roberts Wilkerson, had two children.

All four of the Wilkersons served as educators over the course of the 20th Century. Earl Hance was also “a small-town politician,” in the words of his grandson and one of the farm’s current owners, Kerry Wilkerson. 

As a justice of the peace, Earl Hance married many couples, though he “always tried to talk young people out of marrying so young.” He also managed Roy Acuff’s 1948 gubernatorial campaign in the county.

On the farm, the family raised corn, tobacco, hay, swine, cattle, soybeans, strawberries, bell peppers, wheat, oats, chickens, and geese.

In the 1940s, Stella made mattresses for the community from 130 bales of cotton and 11 bales of mattress ticking that the Clay County Home Demonstration Club had received from the Federal Surplus Commodity Corporation.

In the post-WWII years, Earl Hance worked with other farmers to bring businesses to Clay County, including the Breyer Ice Cream Co. plant that encouraged strawberry production and later a company that processed bell peppers. In the early 1990s, Earl Hance was named Tobacco Farmer of the Year and Grassland Farmer of the Year.

Earl Hance and Stella’s children, Lincoln Smith Wilkerson and Peggy Ann Wilkerson Davis, became the farm’s second owners in 1986.

They phased out tobacco production, completed the mechanization of the farm, and added registered Angus cattle. In the 1980s, Lincoln built a Rolley Hole marble yard on the farm that was featured on ESPN, Tennessee Crossroads, and the Heartland Series.  Clips from all three shows can be found on YouTube.

Current owner Kerry Wilkerson is Lincoln’s son, and they work the farm together, raising beef cattle and hay. 

Three generations currently live on the land, including Peggy, who remains one of the farm’s owners.

The 1920s house built by the founder is no longer in use, but a 1959 house, also built by the founder, is still occupied.

In addition to Home Demonstration, the Wilkersons have been active in 4-H, and they are members Farm Bureau.

The other 14 Century Farms in Clay County include:

• Bazle and Bertha White Farm established in 1917;

• Cherry Farm established in 1910;

• Copas-Craighead Farm established in 1849;

• Daniel-Hummel Farm established in 1910;

• Donaldson Terry Farm established in 1847;

• Hayes and Hayes Farm established in 1902;

• Henson-Pedigo Farm established in 1892;

• King Farm established in 1890;

• Pine Hill Angus Farm established in 1902;

• Rush Gentry Farms established in 1897;

• Spear Farm established in 1910;

• Stone Farms established in 1901;

• Sweezy Farm established in 1885; and

• Wilson Capshaw Farms established in 1872.

Applications for the Tennessee Century Farms Program are accepted at any time, with three application deadlines annually: February 1, June 1, and October 1.

Those applying for the Century Farms program must include the founder’s name and a founding date—proved by a deed, census record, family papers, or other legal documentation.

Beginning with the founder, a list of generations of ownership of the farm through the family to the present-day owner must also be submitted.  Supporting information including crops grown; family stories; involvement in agricultural, civic, and community activities and organizations; and other details are also required.  The application must be notarized and signed by a county agent or county historian.

To apply to the Century Farms program, an application can be downloaded at tncenturyfarms.org. After downloading and saving the application, it can be filled out, printed, and mailed to: Center for Historic Preservation, Century Farms Program, Box 80, MTSU, Murfreesboro, TN 37132.

For more information about the program, email [email protected] or call 615-898-2947.

For help with applying for the program, call the Clay County Extension Office at 931-243-2311.

“We would love to hear from anyone,” local extension official said.  “If you or anyone you know has a Century Farm, we ask you please call for a guide to becoming a recognized Tennessee Century Farm.”

About the Tenn.

Century Farms 

The Tennessee Century Farms Program was created in 1975 by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture as part of our nation’s bicentennial celebration.

In 1985, the Center for Historic Preservation at Middle Tennessee State University assumed the responsibility for the program.  The program was originally designed and continues to be a recognition and documentary effort. The Tennessee Century Farms Program has a farm in all of Tennessee’s 95 counties.

The primary focus of the program is to continue honoring and recognizing the dedication and contributions of families who have owned and farmed the same land for at least 100 years. Since its inception, the statewide and ongoing program has certified more than 2170 farms.

That number includes Pioneer Century Farms (farms founded in or prior to the year 1796, the year Tennessee became a state), farms on the National Register, farms that are a part of the Land Trust for Tennessee, farms with African American founders, and farms founded by women.

Secondly, it is a documentary program that collects and interprets the agrarian history and culture of the state.  The collection has supported the 1985 book, Tennessee Agriculture: A Century Farms Perspective; a traveling exhibit that toured the state from 1988-89; articles in journals and magazines; county displays; local museum exhibits; brochures and booklets; and web sites.

Families choose whether or not to submit an application and be a part of the program.  The Century Farms Program places no restrictions on the farm and offers no legal protection.

For more information, visit tncenturyfarms.org.