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Champion Farms pre-application seeks $200,000 from Cache open-space fund for 242-acre safflower operation
Summary
Utah Agricultural Land Trust presented a pre-application on behalf of Champion Farms, a 242-acre, fourth-generation safflower operation near Clarkston, asking Cache open-space for $200,000 and reporting parallel NRCS and LeRay McAllister applications.
Utah Agricultural Land Trust presented a second pre-application to the Cache Open Space Advisory Committee on Oct. 6 seeking $200,000 from the county's open-space fund for Champion Farms, a 242-acre dry-farming operation in Clarkston that produces safflower seed for bird seed.
The project is significant locally because the land trust said federal and private partners are also being pursued, and the applicants hope early county support would leverage additional funding. Debbie Vanoy, founder and board member of the Utah Agricultural Land Trust, said NRCS and LeRay McAllister applications are in place and that LeRay McAllister conducted a site visit the same Friday it visited the Christiansen Farm.
Vanoy identified the property owners as Christian and Jamie Raabston and described the parcels as noncontiguous. She said the applicants are seeking $200,000 from the county to help complete the funding package and that the Raabstons may consider adding another 80 acres in future years.
Committee members asked about the county share as a percentage of the total transaction. Christian Raabston estimated the county contribution would represent "probably about 14%" initially and later revised that to say "probably more like 8%," noting the exact percentages would be clarified in the formal application and valuation documents.
Committee members advised the applicants to file a formal Phase 1 application; staff will prepare a report and schedule a site visit after the application is submitted. No county funds were approved at the meeting and no vote was taken.
