| Lustigs
receive Century Farm plaque
You wouldn’t know that the family farm is supposedly disappearing if you were at the Lustig place near Cottonwood last Saturday. Over 130 family members joined the celebration as the Lustig homestead was recognized as a “Century Farm” by the Idaho State Historical Society (ISHS) and the Idaho Department of Agriculture (IDA). The occasion was a family reunion of the Lustig Clan that reached over a hundred people on Saturday and had swelled to 330 by Sunday. The award was presented by Earl H. Bennett, Trustee for District 2 of the ISHS and Brian Oakey, Deputy Director, IDA. Back in 1908, Victor and Mary Lustig, arrived in Idaho from Illinois in search of good land. In 1909 they purchased their first piece of land and a home. They had 11 children, and raised wheat, barley, peas, hogs, cattle, chickens, ducks, geese and horses. The second generation to own and operate the farm was their youngest son and his wife, Lambert and Helen Lustig, and they raised 9 children on the farm. One of their sons and third generation farmer, is Doug Lustig, who along with his wife Karen and their children Cory, Samantha, Levi, Talyss and Sabrina own and operate the farm today. Helen and two of Victor and Mary’s daughters, Rita Wimer and Dolores Seubert and son-in-laws Jim Seubert and Joe Schmidt, joined in the weekend celebration. The Century Farm Award recognizes agricultural property owned and operated in Idaho by the same family, at least forty acres of which must have remained in agricultural use for 100 years or more. At present, there are over 350 Century Farms and Ranches throughout Idaho with 23 in Idaho County including the Lustig farm. A list of Century Farms can be found online at http://www.idahohistory.net/centuryfarm.html. Applications for consideration of an Idaho farm or ranch for Century status may be downloaded from the ISHS website or obtained by calling 1-877-old-gems (toll free), writing to Idaho State Historical Society, 2205 Old Penitentiary Road, Boise ID 83712-8250, or emailing steve.barrett@ishs.idaho.gov. |
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