Every summer, Catholics in the Northern part of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati grab their lawn chairs and gather for the archdiocese’s annual Farm Mass.

Jesus becomes present in the Eucharist amid their corn, beans, cows, and chickens in this outdoor liturgy that brings together Catholic farmers. United by their faith and values with others from the parishes in the Land of the Cross Tipped Churches, they thank God in solidarity for His blessings as the harvest begins.

It’s not unexpected as this community of farmers routinely prays for and supports each

other. “Neighbors knowing neighbors and helping each other is a great thing,” said Roger Hoying, who coordinates the Century Farm Awards given to families after the Farm Mass.

This year’s Mass was celebrated in Anna, Ohio, and hosted by the local parish, Sacred Heart in McCartyville.

People attend in both good and poor seasons to petition God and thank Him for the gifts they have received on their

farms. The tradition reminds farmers that their work is intimately connected to God’s creation: to farm is to be a co-worker in the garden with God.

Some years, the weather has been hot and humid, while in other years it rained. When a storm blew in during the Mass a few years ago on a farm near St. Henry, the Mass was quickly moved to continue inside. The rain did not dampen the farmers’ spirits, and the liturgy was still a source of peace and thanksgiving for those present.

As the visible head of the local Church, the archbishop’s celebration of the Farm Mass is important to the farmers, a sign of unity among the diversity of parishes represented. His presence among the rural community also highlights the importance of these faithful in our diocesan Church.

The local parish hosts a social after the Mass, featuring homemade goodies made on the farm. After praying and being fed from the Lord’s altar together, fellowship and unity are important, and they grow through conversation and a shared heritage.

To highlight these farmers’ dedication to the land and farming way of life, the Century Farm Awards are distributed at the social to those local Catholic families whose farms have been passed down through generations for at least a century.

For twelve years, the Catholic Rural Life Conference has recognized farm families with this award, and in August, they awarded this honor to nine more families who have farms in the Land of the Cross Tipped Churches.

The award is a tangible way of recognizing God’s activity in the rural community. “We rely on God to be with us,” Hoying said, “as our families grow and our crops and livestock grow.” In the Northern parishes of the archdiocese, family, crops, and faith, working together in harmony, have flourished. ✣

If you would like more information about the Century Farm Award, you can contact Roger Hoying: [email protected].

This article appeared in the September 2025 edition of The Catholic Telegraph Magazine. For your complimentary subscription, click here.