My family has been farming in Lorain County for five generations. My father’s family has run an agricultural business since 1933. My mother’s family has owned a dairy farm since approximately 1880.
Our county commissioners have informed us that they intend to develop a “mega site” around our farms. It is now classified as agricultural, not industrial. Our land-use committee conducted a survey, and our residents unanimously stated that they do not want to lose agricultural land.
I looked up “mega site” and found articles about pollution in microchip plants, suppliers, and data centers. How could we place those plants in the Great Lakes watershed?!
We’re putting our options together. State Representative Gayle Manning was quoted as congratulating Lorain County Administrator Jeff Armbruster on getting the site “shovel-ready.” He forgot his shovel during his New Russia Township presentation.
They showed us a sewer system plan. A week later, in Vermilion, they showed a slideshow of mammoth buildings. Not surprising. One county commissioner told us that we were not important as farmers and should leave. I’m glad we don’t consider our lifework unimportant, or he would have hurt our feelings!
