ELLSWORTH – At this year’s Pierce County Fair, Donna Swenson from the Ellsworth American Legion spoke about the need for volunteers and community support for veterans now more than ever, during the veterans program at the Pierce County Fair on Sunday, Aug. 15.

“Nearly 20 percent of veterans who served in Iraq or Afghanistan suffer from depression or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and approximately 29 percent of veterans who joined the military after 2001 have a service-connected disability compared to the 16 percent of the military before that time. With all this in mind we need more volunteers to help veterans more than ever before.”

She urged everyone to offer services and volunteer whenever possible to help the veterans in the Pierce County community.

“If you want to volunteer it can be in your neighborhood, town or county and it can be as simple as offering rides to stores, baking cookies for a veteran or mowing a veteran's lawn,” she said.

The 10th annual Pierce County Veterans Golf Tournament will be held on Sept 17 at the Spring Valley Golf Course and is another opportunity to donate in support of veterans in the county.

After the veteran’s program, several area farms received recognition as Century and Sesquicentennial Farms.

Earning the award of a century or sesquicentennial home and farm means that they have been owned continuously for 100 years or 150 years within the same family. This year four families represented their home or farm for the century and sesquicentennial ceremony.

The Century and Sesquicentennial program awards farms and homes from all over the state of Wisconsin and several other farms in the state were recognized at this year’s Wisconsin State Fair earlier this week, including those from Pierce County.

The program started in 1948 and aims to honor these families across Wisconsin.

“We are very proud of our county’s strong agricultural background and heritage…today we are recognizing two farms and one home that have had continuous ownership since 1921 and we also have one farm that has a continuous farm ownership since 1856,” Pierce County Fair Manager Ann Webb said.

Pierce County Fair Committee Chair Dean Bergseng presented the awards to the families at this year's ceremony.

The first farm is owned by Cheryl A. and Glenn D. Anderson; their farm is located in Trenton Township and established in 1920.

The next Century Farm designation went to Dianne, Larry and Chad Madson. Their farm was founded in 1920 and is located in Gilman Township near Spring Valley.

Charla Kusilek received the third Century Farm recognition; this home was established in 1884 in River Falls.

The sesquicentennial award, which is specifically 150 years, was presented to Gina and Jeff Girdeen; their home is located in Beldenville and was originally established in 1856.

To become recognized as a century or sesquicentennial home or farm there is an application process that is available through the Wisconsin State Fair website. Applicants must provide proof of ownership for the past 100 or 150 years to qualify and become an honoree.

Photo by Melissa Thorud

Photo by Melissa Thorud

Photo by Melissa Thorud

Photo by Melissa Thorud

Jeff and Gina Girdeen were the Sesquicentennial Farm recipients at this year’s Pierce County Fair. Their family farm has been under continuous family ownership for more than 150 years.

Charla Kusilek’s Century Farm has been in her family since 1884 and is located near River Falls. She received a certificate on Sunday, Aug. 15 at the Pierce County Fair ceremony.

Dianne, Larry and Chad Madson received recognition, along with their young family members, for their Century Farm at the Pierce County Fair on Sunday, Aug. 15 from Fair Committee Dean Bergseng. Their farm was founded in 1920.