Longstanding family farm ownership will be honoured in Lawrence on May 25.
The New Zealand Century Farm Award recognises families who have owned the same farm for a century or more.
Twenty-eight families will attend the official function at the Simpson Park complex on May 25.
Two families will be presented with sesquicentennial awards marking 150 years or more of farm ownership.
New Zealand Century Farm and Station Awards Committee chairman Symon Howard said interest in the awards was growing.
''It's good to see nine families from the North Island joining us this year too.''
Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy will be guest speaker, and radio farming personality Dominic George will compere the awards.
Mr Howard said the awards were the brainchild of the former Lawrence Heritage and Opportunities Working Party, which decided to recognise New Zealand farming families with a connection to the land of at least 100 years.
The awards are in their eighth year. The first awards night was held in 2006 and 55 families from throughout New Zealand were honoured after farming the same piece of land for 100 years or more.
In December, the awards committee named Waitahuna man Russell Brown as its patron. Committee secretary Karen Roughan said Mr Brown was the founding member and instigator of the awards.
