BLOOMINGTON — Jeff Lucas and Anne Fields Lucas have been awarded the 2026 John Arnold Award for Rural Preservation by Indiana Landmarks and the Indiana Farm Bureau in recognition of their stewardship of the historic Tate-Tatum Farm south of Bloomington.
Established in 1822 by John and Susanna Tate, the 156-acre property includes an 1822 double-crib log barn and an 1822 farmhouse that the Lucases rehabilitated with restored wooden siding, updated utilities, and accessible entrances. The couple adapted outbuildings for livestock and storage, preserved a three-quarter-mile section of the historic Monon Railroad bed, and successfully listed the property on the National Register of Historic Places.
In addition to raising beef cattle and horses, the family operates the farm as an event venue and short-term rental named Whippoorwill Hill. The venue features the reconstructed 1892 Russell Barn, which was dismantled in Shelby County and rebuilt on-site to generate income that supports the ongoing maintenance of the farm’s historic structures.
Indiana Landmarks and the Indiana Farm Bureau presented the annual award—named in memory of Rush County farmer John Arnold—to the Lucas family on August 13 at the Indiana State Fair.
