In most states and provinces, the essential requirement for the award is that the property must have remained in the same family continuously for 100 years or more and currently be a working farm or ranch.
[1] Some states stipulate a minimum number of acres or annual agricultural sales.
[2] In Alberta the Alberta Century Farm & Ranch Award is administered by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development[3] and similar programs are run by individual counties and municipalities.
In other states, civic groups such as the Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben perform the function.
The award typically defines a farm as 40 acres (16 ha) or more and consists of a plaque and a sign as well as formal listing.