Each generation of the Hackman family all had one thing in common when it came to making sure their farming operations stayed successful.

Watermelons.

Yes, Hackman Family Farms has been growing watermelons since the start of its farm operations more than 100 years ago when Tom Hackman’s great-great-grandfather, John G. Hackman, also known as George, bought a piece of farmland in 1910, two miles away from their current operations at 6077 S. State Road 135 near Vallonia.

The Hackman family recently was recognized for its longstanding commitment to agriculture and was presented with the Centennial Hoosier Homestead Award for keeping its family farm operation for so many years.

The Hoosier Homestead Award was presented to 103 Indiana family farms at the Indiana State Fair by Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch and Indiana State Department of Agriculture Director Don Lamb.

Tom said being able to accept the award on behalf of the entire family was a humbling experience.

“What an honor to be able to accept this award for my parents, grandparents and great-grandparents who started this and worked so hard on this operation,” he said.

To be named a Hoosier Homestead, farms must be owned by the same family for more than 100 consecutive years and consist of 20 acres or more or produce more than $1,000 in agricultural products per year.

“The Hoosier Homestead ceremony is always a highlight of the Indiana State Fair for me,” said Crouch, Indiana’s secretary of agriculture and rural development. “Celebrating these longstanding farming families and their ancestors for their work and commitment to our state and Indiana agriculture is a true honor.”

Tom said when accepting the award, he thought about all of the sacrifice his family put into the farm to get where it is now.

“You think about all of the hard work that my family put in before me, and now, I am the one that’s collecting for it,” he said. “This award really goes out to the past generations and a tribute to those before me.”

After finding out they won this stellar award, the family took a deep dive into the books, going all the way back to the beginning when George Hackman started it all.

Besides watermelons, the Hackmans raised cattle for beef and grew corn, often using mules for their farming practices.

After George Hackman died, the land and all operations went to the next in line, William H.C. Hackman, Tom’s great-grandfather.

William, who often went by “Banker Bill” since he managed a bank in Vallonia, was considered a bit of a jokester and a fanatic of ice cream, Tom said.

“Bill always had to drive the nice cars,” Tom said. “I was told he was a fan of Buicks instead of Chevys.”

Business was steadily increasing for the Hackman name, and eventually, William built a house originally for a hired hand on the farm. Now, the house on the original property has been used by multiple generations, including Tom’s parents, Charles and Laverne, and now, their son, Victor, and his family.

When William died due to a car wreck in 1956, the operations and land went to his son, Victor, while the daughters received an inheritance.

“It’s interesting to go back on all of the wills of each generation, and it seems to be historically that the girls received cash and the boys received land in the farming operation so it would stay in the Hackman name,” Tom’s wife, Ruth Hackman, said.

Victor bought the first tractor for the farm in the 1940s and carried on the tradition of teaching his three sons everything there is to know about farming.

When Victor died of leukemia in 1958, his three sons, Paul, Alvin and Charles, were left with the farming operations.

Eventually, the oldest, Paul, married and started his own farm in Columbus, and Alvin and Charles farmed together until 1979.

Tom said one of the most important things he has learned through the many generations is the importance of estate planning.

“My parents made sure the farm stayed in the family,” he said. “It was really great estate planning done by my parents, and we are very fortunate that our family all gets along. My parents sat me and my two sisters down and said, ‘This is what we want to happen.’ My sisters have been wonderful.”

Tom said he was able to pick up the knowledge of the operation and adapt his farming practices as he grew up through his father. Tom said a big game changer the farm had to face over the years was losing the knowledge past loved ones carried with them.

“After losing my grandpa, my dad and my uncle essentially lost their library. All of that knowledge that my grandpa had left with him,” he said. “It’s not that they didn’t know what they were doing, but without that history of how it all started, it’s a real setback.”

However, with diversification of their farming operations, they have always found steady success.

“Diversification has always been a major key to agriculture, and the Hackmans have been all about that,” Ruth said.

With diversification comes evolutions and adaptation along the way for many longstanding family farms to remain successful.

“Keeping a farm operational for 100 years or more is no simple task,” Lamb said. “Each passing generation has certainly had to adapt and evolve their farming practices and techniques to ensure continued success.”

With all of the changes along the way, Tom said he will never forget the first time he drove a tractor.

“They started me on an old Ferguson 39 in an open field in Buffalo Bottoms,” he said. “The neighborhood couldn’t believe this little 7- or 8-year-old kid was sitting on this tractor plowing. You couldn’t tear me off of that thing. If I stopped, it was only because I ran out of gas.”

Tom said it has been exciting seeing the farm grow and bring new challenges as his children take the reins on some of the operations.

“My kids are old enough now where you can turn it over to them and feel comfortable enough to know that the job is getting done right,” he said. “The farm is in good hands.”

The Hackmans plan to continue their growth into wholesaling watermelons and also growing their Veg2Table program. As for the rest, the family said God will decide.

“The Lord has blessed us tremendously, and we hope to pass it along to our children down the road,” Ruth said.

From buying his first plot of farmland at 18 to a widely successful and historical farming operation, Tom never forgot the words of advice his dad told him when it was his time to take over.

“Dad always said the farm has to keep growing. It can’t stop, and if it stops, it’s dead,” he said.

With hopes of doubling the size of their packing shed before next year and adding 15 more acres of watermelons, the Hackman family said without a doubt, they will continue to grow into generations to come.

“This next generation is going to keep pushing. They aren’t stopping,” Tom said. “I have no idea where we will go next, but it’s exciting.”