First Heritage Award goes to Johnson-Sloss Farmby Mary Le Arneal
The first Dodge County Heritage Farm award was given to Mark Johnson of North Bend, Kent Johnson of Laguna Niguel, Calif, and Nancy Coetzee of Ranchero Sante Fe, Calif. The descendents of James Sloss continue to own the land their maternal great-grandfather purchased from John Millar half a mile west of North Bend in October 1858, almost 157 years ago. Sloss came from Ireland to New York then Ohio on a flatboat. An ox-drawn wagon then brought him to North Bend where his brother had already settled. Sloss and his wife Nancy and two small sons spent the first winter in a sod house before building a frame house. Sloss was a farmer and raised stock. The Heritage Award goes to families who have held farm ground in their family for more than 150 consecutive years. It is presented by the Ak Sar Ben Foundation, Nebraska Fair Managers Association and Nebraska Farm Bureau. There were no Pioneer Farm Families (100 years consecutive ownership of farm) in Dodge County this year. The presentation of a plaque and gate post was made by was Dodge County Fair Board members Hudson Moseman and Lori Helgenberger. Dr. Mark Johnson of North Bend accepted the award on behalf of his family. <<Back to the front page |
