Christian Way Farm has been hosting family-friendly and agriculture education activities for 25 years, but the history of the family-owned farm traces back to 1924. To highlight that long history, members of the Corley family were presented with a Kentucky Historic Farm Centennial designation on Tuesday.
Before the presentation, Janie Corley, who now owns the farm with her husband Milton Corley, spotlighted the history of the farm and how it came to be.
In 1924, Elizabeth Corley Harrison purchased the first piece of land that would later become the Corley Family Farm. Later, her brother Guy Corley bought her land for $600. Janie Corley says he ended up accumulating around 250 acres of land.
Guy Corley married Hazel Elizabeth King and had a son, Edwin Corley, who would later take over the farm. Edwin Corley then had six children, and three of them, including Milton, were in attendance on Tuesday.
Janie Corley says she and her husband moved their family onto the farm in 1999. In 2000, they planted pumpkins, made a corn maze and borrowed some farm animals with the intent of hosting school visits. During their first season, around 1,800 students and teachers visited the farm.
Since then, the farm has been transformed, Janie Corley says they have opened a convenience store, established a public restroom, built a miniature golf course and along with a café. Over the past 25 years, Janie Corley says around 300,000 people have visited the farm.
Jacob Workman was a longtime worker at the farm and says he considers the place his second home. Workman started working at the farm at around 10 years old and continued until he went to college.
Workman says the farm played a key role in his growth and says the community needs places like Christian Way Farm that spotlight small businesses, agriculture and religion.
Hopkinsville Mayor J.R. Knight thanked the Corleys for being a longstanding part of the community and attracting so many visitors to Christian County.
Zach Morris a survey coordinator with the Kentucky Heritage Council presented the Corleys with a sign recognizing the farm’s centennial anniversary as well as a centennial certificate signed by Governor Andy Beshear.
Local state representatives Myron Dossett and Walker Thomas and Senator Craig Richardson also presented the Corleys with a citation recognizing the 100-year milestone.
Janie Corley says it feels surreal to be celebrating the farm’s centennial and calls the occasion a source of motivation to keep the farm alive.
Christian Way Farm is located at 19590 Linville Road and more information about it is available at christianwayfarm.com.