Rural Living and Farmland Preservation

After medical school, anesthesiology residency, and two years service in US Public Health Service, we chose to buy the 15-acre family farm from my grandparents’ estate and raise our three children while I practiced in the nearby urban center of the state capital. The kids all grew up learning responsibilities, enjoying freedom and independence. When I retired from medicine at age 68 I still had productive activities all year around at the farm and local community. I served many years on planning and zoning boards, and it is satisfying to see the preservation my neighbors and I have accomplished. Our biggest achievement was the merging of our former village and adjoining township to maintain local control and avoid creeping annexation from nearby urban entities. We have been actively involved in our state farmland preservation movement and are grateful for the privilege of stewardship or our 217-acre farm.