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Farmers and residents urge support for farmland preservation bond at Henderson County meeting
Summary
Multiple farmers and residents told the Board that preserving farmland protects local food production, heritage and scenic landscapes; speakers included owners with multi-generation farms and one campaign volunteer offering to lead outreach.
Several farmers and residents used the public comment period to urge the Board to place a farmland preservation bond on the November ballot and to support it.
Mike Stepp, owner of Stepp's Hillcrest Orchard, said his "family orchard has been in business for 60 years" and noted he purchased two parcels adjacent to the orchard to expand and keep land in agricultural use. Linda Pryor, who described her family's operation as beginning in 1939 and now encompassing about 1,100 acres of owned and leased land, warned that "once farmland is sold for other uses, it is unlikely to return to agricultural production," and said preservation protects food production, jobs and scenic landscapes. Other commenters — Gary Steiner, Brett Werner, Adam Wallace and Chuck McGrady — said they support the referendum; Steiner thanked the Board for acting quickly, Werner noted incorrect information about the Farmland Preservation Taskforce on the county website, and McGrady said he expects broad community support and offered to lead a campaign.
The comments reflect backing from long-established local farms and residents; no formal opposition was recorded during the session.
