MURFREESBORO, TN (WGNS) - Just weeks before wrapping up a remarkable 30‑year tenure as director of the Center for Historic Preservation at Middle Tennessee State University, historian Carroll Van West found himself returning to the project that helped define his life’s work. It's in his newest book: Tennessee’s Frontier Century Farms: An Enduring Legacy of Family, Farming, and Community. For West, it was a fitting capstone to a 41‑year career spent documenting Tennessee’s people, places, and stories.
“We’ve had a very busy year. It was a nice way to end my time at MTSU,” West said, reflecting on the project that brought him back to the Century Farms Program he first took over in 1985.
A Half‑Century of Tennessee Farm History
The Century Farms Program began in 1975 during the nation’s Bicentennial celebration, recognizing farms that have remained in continuous family ownership and agricultural production for at least 100 years. Today, more than 2,300 farms across all 95 counties carry the designation, with many stretching back more than two centuries.
West’s 170‑page volume highlights roughly 100 of Tennessee’s earliest frontier farms, representing all three Grand Divisions. The book blends present‑day digital photography with rare black‑and‑white images that had never been published, giving readers a vivid look at the families who shaped Tennessee’s agricultural heritage. The project also serves as one of the Tennessee Department of Agriculture’s signature contributions to the United States’ 250th anniversary.
State Agriculture Commissioner Andy Holt praised the work, noting that Tennessee’s farm families “represent the strength, resilience and dedication” that built the state’s top industry. More than 400 people attended the book launch, a turnout that surprised even West.
A Legacy Beyond the Page
West, who was appointed state historian in 2013, says the program’s endurance reflects Tennessee’s identity. “Our Frontier Century Farms are the foundation of Tennessee’s history, culture and economy,” he said. But when asked what he treasures most, he points to his students. Over his career, he guided 53 doctoral candidates and 131 master’s students to their degrees.
“I’m really proud of the students and what they’ve accomplished,” he said. “They take the lessons of the center and apply them across the country. To me, that’s really important.”
To purchase the book, email histpres@mtsu.edu or call 615‑898‑2947.
