Junior Parsley looks out his living room window down into the pasture where he and his wife were married in the late 1950s.

From his kitchen sink window, Parsley can see down into the valley where multiple barns stand, including one barn that was on the property when his parents bought it 100 years ago. It was built with wooden pegs, he adds.

Parsley was born and raised in a farmhouse on the farm that no longer stands.

“Along the creek down there,” Parsley said as he looks out his window.

He had to have the farmhouse torn down eventually because it was not livable, he explained.

For the last 93 years, Parsley has called this 118 acre farm home. And last month the Parsley family farm — near the intersection of Ford Ridge and Upper Salt Creek roads — received the Centennial Hoosier Homestead award for 100 years of commitment to Indiana agriculture, according to a press release from the Indiana Department of Agriculture.

To receive the state recognition, farms must be owned by the same family for more than 100 consecutive years and be made up of 20 acres or more, according to the department of agriculture.

The farm must also produce more than $1,000 in agricultural products each year.

Earning this award for his family’s farm has been Parsley’s dream.

“The doctors are like ‘You’re not going to make it for another six months.’ He’s like ‘No, I want to make it until I get this award.’ It’s really important to us. It’s a cool acknowledgement that were still on the farm, we’re still farming,” his daughter Robin said.

“I was getting close,” Junior said.

“I was wanting to live long enough to make it 100 years (for the award).”

Robin accepted the award on the family’s behalf from Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch and Indiana State Department of Agriculture Director Bruce Kettler.

The family rents the fields to grow corn and soybeans along with raising beef cows. Soy beans are growing this summer and the yellowed tops of the crop are beginning to peak as Junior looks out his window.

Junior’s father, Elmer Parsley Sr., bought the farm in 1920 with his father William F. Parsley. William never did live on the farm, but Junior’s parents lived there until they passed in the 1970s, leaving the farm to Elmer “Junior” Parsley Jr., Robin said.

The property went through three different deed transfers while remaining in the family. Robin’s great-grandfather’s name was on the original deed.

Junior was active in soil and water conservation and the agricultural community overall, including at the state level, so he had known about this award and made it a goal to get it one day for his own family’s farm.

“Dad has been very, very knowledgeable about this award andhe really wanted it,” Robin said.

Junior married Francis Parsley, who passed away in 2007. She was a well-known substitute teacher in Brown County Schools.

“There are generations of people who will know her name,” Robin said.

When the two married, Junior’s parents gave the couple an acre halfway up the hill where Junior’s house still stands.

Robin is the couple’s only child. She has fond memories growing up on the Parsley family farm.

“I think Brown County is gorgeous, but I will stake a claim that the views out my parents’ front living room window is about the prettiest view in Brown County,” she said.

“It was fun growing up on a farm. I always had dogs. It was a pretty place. We have 118 acres, so the neighbors were close, but not too close.”

Artists used to come and paint the farm’s landscape.

“One told me at the top of the hill is the most beautiful place in Brown County,” Junior said.

Robin will eventually inherit the farm and with the help of her cousins, who are farmers, she will continue to operate it.

Robin encourages any long-term farming families to look into their eligibility to receive a Hoosier Homestead award. The award also comes with a sign that can be displayed at the farm. Junior also received letters from state Rep. Chris May and Sen. Eric Koch for receiving the award.

“One hundred years ago when dad and mom bought this place they gave $3,500 for a house, a barn and 118 acres,” Junior said.

“Today I wouldn’t take $3,500 for the worst acre on the place.”