My Dad grew up on this farm.

This is the farm my great grandfather homesteaded in 1876. It is still in our family. The house and barn are gone, but the grove and corncrib are still there. My mom and her brothers grew up on this farm.

My Dad could not wait to leave the farm when he went off to college. But as time went on he was drawn back to the farm and Mallard. My Dad passed on his love of Mallard to our oldest Son Rob, who always wanted to open a restaurant in Mallard.

Connie, I remember how he loved his visits back home. He would go to the café and gas station and every other business to visit with old friends he grew up with and went to school with. He would also visit the farm every year and loved to reminisce. Grandma and Grandpa Cross loved his visits and so did my parents. Good times.

Our homestead from 1876, signed in person by President Rutherford B. Hayes!

I received my framed print of this picture this week, and couldn't wait to hang it up. It warms my heart every time I look at it. I am applying for century farm status this coming year, as it was homesteaded by my great grandfather in 1876. In 17 years it will be eligible for Heritage Farm status at 150 years in the Cross family.

I have an interesting story to share about the huge grove surrounding the building site. My great grandfather drove horse and wagon to the East fork of the Des Moines river to dig saplings to wrap in burlap and return to the farm to transplant the grove. The distance was approximately 10 miles so it was a 3 day event, one day to get to the river, a day to dig and wrap saplings, another day to drive the team and wagon home. Then the transplanting began. The grove is still there and is magnificent. The trees are nearly 150 years old (1871), before the Homestead was official and paperwork was completed. It was required there be a grove and dwelling to be accepted by the Homestead Act.