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![NRCS This Week mast head](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20080921204043im_/http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/news/thisweek/images/mastheaddshadow3.jpg)
Historic Family Farm Saved
![(from left) Kent County Commissioner Jack Horton, Congressman Vernon Ehlers, and NRCS Assistant State Conservationist Carla Gregory present sign to landowner Tim Howard](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20080921204043im_/http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/news/thisweek/images/mifrppmed.jpg)
(from left) Kent
County Commissioner Jack Horton, Congressman Vernon Ehlers, and NRCS
Assistant State Conservationist Carla Gregory present sign to landowner
Tim Howard |
Thanks to the NRCS Farm and Ranch Land Protection Program and matching funds
from the Kent County Purchase of Development Rights Program, 106 acres that have
been a part of Tim Howard’s family farm near Lowell, Michigan, since 1842 will
be protected from development. The prime Vergennes Township farmland is located
in one of the State’s fastest developing counties and the purchase insures that
the land remains in agricultural production.
Congressman Ehlers along with County Commissioner Jack Horton and NRCS
Assistant State Conservationist Carla Gregory presented Tim with a sign
designating the property as the first to have development rights purchased by
the Kent County program. Funds to purchase the development rights were
contributed by Bowne Township in Kent County, the Grand Rapids Community
Foundation, the Lowell Area Community Fund and the Steelcase Foundation.
Your contact is Brian Buehler,
NRCS public affairs specialist, at 517-324-5244.
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