By Lexi MooreEvery year the Minnesota State Fair recognizes farms that have been owned by the same family for at least 100 years and are 50 acres or more in size. This year Orrin Aukes’ farm has been added to the list of Minnesota Century Farms.In 1906, Dick Aukes, Orrin’s grandfather, purchased the farm from Henry and Bertha Trepp for $10,400. He built the home that still is used on the property and began milking cows.The land is located just south of Highway 270 and east of 90th Street near Steen.In 1913, Orrin’s father, Dick, purchased the farm from his father for $9,600.Dick and his wife, Laura, raised 10 children — five boys and five girls — on the farm. Orrin said he remembers having to help build some of the outlying barns and notes that in those days farms were self-sufficient."Every farm had milk cows, chickens, some pigs and a big ol’ garden," he said. "You had to produce everything you needed to survive."In 1962 Orrin’s father, Dick, was injured in a car accident just east of the farm. He was unable to recover from the injuries, leaving the operations and ownership of the farm to his wife, Laura.In 1974, after Laura died, the farm was left to all 10 children. Not long after, Orrin took ownership. He purchased the land from his siblings for $21,000. His nephew, Melvin Paulsen, purchased another section of the land.Orrin and his wife, Bernice, moved into the home on the property and quickly began making updates.The house had electricity but didn’t have hot water, and the plumbing was limited. There was one sink in the kitchen that ran cold water and a bathtub in the bathroom. Water for baths had to be heated on the stove.They added the comforts of a water heater and installed a sink and toilet in the bathroom. Milking operations continued as the couple raised their five children. He said the family enjoyed the location of the farm and often spent time at events in Steen and Hills.Orrin said that money was tight when they were paying on the mortgage. "We spent our time raising babies and milking, that’s how we paid for our home."He speaks often and highly of his children’s loyalty to the family and farm. His youngest son, Jeff, still spends a good deal of time at home and helps maintain the property in addition to his other jobs."Our children are good to us," he said. "I wouldn’t doubt it if one of them will own it someday."In October the couple will celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary, and there aren’t any signs of them leaving the farm anytime soon. Country living is all either has known, and it is where they intend to stay.Their daughter, Mary Crawford, helped them fill out the paperwork to qualify as a Century Farm Family and is in the process of planning a possible trip to the Minnesota State Fair so that the family can be recognized. If they don’t make it to the fair, they intend to hang their commemorative sign and frame the certificate to be displayed proudly in the 100-year-old home that has raised 15 Aukes children.