By Danielle Trank

Tim and Mary Sowa’s Molalla farm has been in the family for 100 years as of June 17, just in time to be eligible for this year’s Oregon Century Farm and Ranch Program award.

In order to qualify for the award, farm owners must follow an official application process, proving that the family has continuously owned and operated the farm or ranch for a full 100 years. The owners must actively manage the farm or ranch activities. The land also must receive a gross income from farm use of at least $1,000 per year for a minimum of three out of five years prior to applying.

Nineteen farms and ranches received the Oregon Century Farm and Ranch award this year, including the Sowas’ farm on Groshong Road in Molalla.

“I applied for the award because I have the original house and felt it was appropriate,” Tim Sowa said.

Tim’s grandparents, Enoch and Antonia Sowa, purchased 279 acres from John Groshong in 1909. They used the land to raise cattle and hay. In 1910, Enoch and his brothers built a larger house on the farm from lumber they had cut themselves. Enoch and Antonia managed the farm themselves until Enoch passed away in 1927.

Antonia continued to live on the farm with her children while Ernie, one of her older sons, helped maintain the farm. When Antonia died in 1937, Ernie took over the farm until his death in 1972. The property was then passed on to his brother, Lawrence Sowa, and his wife Della.

Photo By Tim Maronay Tim and Mary Sowa reside on a 40 acre segment of the family property, in the 1910 farmhouse built by Enoch Sowa.

The Sowa family still owns 120 acres of the original farm. Tim and Mary own 40 acres of the original property and Tim’s brother and sister each own 40 acres as well.

“I’ve been in Molalla all my life besides a few years when I was in college or working in the Portland area,” Tim Sowa said.

The couple said that the farm was one of the reasons they came back to the Molalla area. Tim came back to Molalla in 1976, just in time to take over the Sowa land and the original house his grandfather had built in 1910. They purchased their portion of the property from Tim’s parents, Lawrence and Della Sowa.

“It’s nice to still have the house in the family,” Tim Sowa said.

The Sowa family still lives in the original farmhouse, but they have done a lot of maintenance and updating. The house did not have plumbing or electricity when they took over the property in 1976.

Tim has done some updating around the farm as well, such as building a barn, a garage, and storage for his farm equipment.

The Sowa farm still earns some profit from cattle and hay and they have also been growing Christmas trees for the past 20 years. Tim also works a full time job and Mary works two part time jobs, so managing the farm in addition is a big task.

Tim and Mary have three sons, but do not know yet if their children will want to take over the farm in the future.

“We hope to keep the farm in the family,” Mary Sowa said.

The Sowas will receive their Century Farm award Sept. 5 at the Oregon State Fair.