Download This Version in Microsoft Word format
TO CONGRATULATE MARTIN OWEN OF ANDERSON COUNTY ON THE DESIGNATION OF HIS FAMILY FARM AS A SOUTH CAROLINA CENTURY FARM, AND WISH HIS FAMILY, HIS FARM, AND HIM CONTINUED PROSPERITY IN THE FUTURE.
Whereas, in honor of our State's rich agricultural history, the General Assembly created the South Carolina Century Farms Program to recognize farms that have been in the same family for one hundred years or more. There are currently over three hundred forty properties that have been designated as Century Farms since 1974; and
Whereas, Martin Owen and his wife, Mary Ellen, of the Piercetown Community of Anderson County live on a 200-acre farm started by Martin's grandfather, Jeff Owen, in 1905; the same year Theodore Roosevelt began his first full term as president, the City of Las Vegas was founded, and Albert Einstein published his groundbreaking theory of relativity; and
Whereas, Martin's father, Ralph Owen, continued the family farm tradition, milking as many as twenty cows a day by hand, picking up countless buckets of milk that had been kicked over by the cows, and selling his milk, butter, and cream products door-to-door in Anderson County; and
Whereas, in 1954, the installation of electric milking machines brought increased speed and efficiency to the Owens' operations, enabling the family to expand its herd of cattle to over 140 head; and
Whereas, Martin became a farmer when he was only four years old when he began milking cows by hand to help the family, and over the years became an integral part of the farm operation until the family sold the dairy heard in the late 1990s; and
Whereas, following the death of his parents and sister, Martin began raising registered Black Angus cattle and the feed for the cattle, continuing the Owen Family's farming tradition into the Twenty-First Century with Mary Ellen's support; and
Whereas, in recognition of the remarkable history of the Owen Family and their one-hundred and two year old farming legacy in Anderson County, they will be honored as having a South Carolina Century Farm in a special program to be held at the Pendleton Agricultural Museum later this year. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:
That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, congratulate Martin Owen of Anderson County on the designation of his family farm as a South Carolina Century Farm, and wish his family, his farm, and him continued prosperity in the future.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Martin Owen.
This web page was last updated on Monday, June 22, 2009 at 2:49 P.M.