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

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.

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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.