The Missouri Century Farm program's history dates back to 1976 as a result of the Missouri Committee for Agriculture which was co-chaired by James B. Boillot, Director, Missouri Department of Agriculture, and Elmer R. Kiehl, Dean of the College of Agriculture, University of Missouri. The committee's purpose was to organize the American Revolution Bicentennial celebration in Missouri. One activity that was initiated by the committee was the "Centennial Farm" project which awarded certificates to persons owning farms that had been in the same family for 100 years or more. Interest in the program continued after 1976.  The College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources and University of Missouri Extension planned a 10-year update in 1986 called the "Century Farm" program.  This program has been sustained as a yearly event with over 100 farms recognized each year. In 2008, Missouri Farm Bureau became a program co-sponsor.