Avery Family Farm

Year established: 1914

Generation: 3

Township: Iowa

Acres: 80

Year awarded: 2020

ROWAN — The sign that marks the location of the Avery Family Century Farm is prominently displayed for anyone driving past Rowan on Highway 3 between Interstate 35 to the east and U.S. Highway 69 to the west. It is located at the junction of Highway 3 and County Road C38, on the north edge of Rowan in Wright County.

A U.S. flag flies above a rusty creation that resembles a tractor as it has wheels, an exhaust pipe, steering wheel, and seat. The Century Farm sign is attached to steel mesh welded to a metal framework.

It is the creation of Bob Avery, whose wife Annie is the third generation to own the Century Farm.

Louis and Bertha McKinley were the first owners of the Century Farm, buying it in 1901, and are the grandparents of Annie Avery. Annie Avery’s memories are of her grandmother.

“I didn’t know Granddad. He died when I was two,” said Annie Avery. “I stayed overnight with grandmother.”

The McKinleys had a daughter Luelda who married Dillard Tudor. They were the next owners of the farm in 1920. Annie Avery grew up as their daughter, Annie Tudor.

Her son, Jim Avery, remembers his grandfather Dillard. “He was an old-style farmer,” said Jim Avery of his grandfather. “He had a few geese around, a few ducks around, and butchered a cow every year.”

Dillard Tudor kept goldfish in a stock tank, moving them inside each year ahead of winter. It was Annie’s job to catch the fish each fall.

Luelda Tudor is remembered as the person who drove the pickup attached to the rope that lifted the hay into the barn haymow. Her kids rode in the pickup with her, keeping busy with their coloring books. About 1968, Luelda was injured while working with hogs and walked with a cane for the rest of her life.

Jim Avery remembers Luelda Tudor had a large garden of vegetables and roses.

“You could see it from the road,” he said.

At age 9, in 1919, Luelda Tudor got a ticket to ride in a plane at the Iowa State Fair.

“She talked about how scared she was for the rest of her life,” said Jim Avery.

Dillard Tudor said he was too young for World War I and too old for World War II, according to Jim Avery.

Around 1954, Dillard and Luelda Tudor helped their daughter Annie and son-in-law, Bob Avery, who was a veteran of the Korean War, buy a farm for about $100 an acre.

“I didn’t know how we would get out from under that,” said Annie Avery.

The Tudors died on the farm. Dillard died while he was working, and Luelda died in the house.

Annie Avery is widowed and lives in Clarion. She and Bob Avery are parents to Jim and Jack.

Jack Avery lives in St. Paul with his partner, Dan Lontkowski. Jim Avery is married to Terri and they are the parents of Abbey, Caleb, and Brogan. Their children and grandchildren all live in Iowa.

Terri Avery is a crop insurance agent. Terri and Annie Avery play the guitar and sing at area nursing homes.

Abbey Avery is married to Chris Canon and lives outside of Rowan with their two children, Avery and Maime. Abbey Canon works from home as a public health veterinarian in biosecurity.

“We all have farm jobs,” said Abbey Canon.

“All three are ISU grads,” added her dad, Jim Avery.