For over 50 years, this has been Ellen Knoernschild’s weekend routine for more than half of the year. However, this year marks a special milestone for her and her family. Sept. 24, 2021, was the 200th anniversary of the family’s farm, Centennial Farms. The farm has been both an economic means and treasured heirloom for seven generations of Knoernschilds since the 1850s.
Miserez, Laura. “Knoernschilds celebrate 200 years of Centennial Farms.” emissourian.com, October 13, 2021.
There are mazes to run through, a grain bin to play in, and other children’s activities to enjoy. Check out the Halloween figures on display, and browse the gourds and mums that are for sale.
Rosabal, Kenya. “St. Louis pumpkin patches: The ultimate guide to pumpkin picking this fall.” St. Louis Magazine, October 15, 2021.
Centennial Farms goes all out with its decorations for pumpkin picking — pumpkins and gourds painted and carved to look like storybook characters, a crashed alien spaceship and some humorously inscribed tombstones.
“A guide to Halloween haunts and happenings.” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, October 4, 2018.
Finish off your basket with refrigerator or pantry staples. Centennial Farms Apple Butter preserves the fresh flavor of the apple harvest until it kicks in again next summer.
Bonwich, Joe. “Give holiday gifts with local flavor.” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 11, 2012.
Ellen Knoernschild likes being the queen bee at Centennial Farms. She sells the farm’s 16 types of preserves at the Maplewood and Tower Grove farmers markets, helps grow Centennial’s 24 varieties of apples in a pick-your-own orchard and cooks the famous apple butter in the kitchen’s 50-gallon copper kettle. And she teaches schoolchildren the role bees play in pollinating the farm’s bounty of fruit crops.
Keaggy, Diane Toroian. “Hip ‘Hoods: The wineries (and more) of Augusta.” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, September 15, 2011.
Centennial Farms, although it wasn’t named that back then, actually predates the town of Augusta.
The farm began in 1821 with the town’s founder, Leonard Harold, a settler from Virginia who had followed Daniel Boone to St. Charles County.
Harold purchased more than 300 acres of government land along the Missouri River. Documents of the purchase have President James Monroe’s signature granting Harold the land where he later grew tobacco and other crops.
Myers, Karen. “Six Generations — One Common Thread.” emissourian.com, October 5, 2010.