I grew up in Highland. My dad was on the planning commission for several years. We had a small alfalfa farm, only to feed our own livestock. It was not our means of living. My dad was in construction. Many of old timer farmers were pushed out over the years, or they passed and their kids sold their farms to be developed. Others sold off and moved to Idaho or other areas more conducive to rural living. One farmer was swindled out of his property by a shady realtor. He grew the best cantaloupe you have ever tasted! But his farm stunk because he fertilized with chicken shit. The new mcmansion neighbors complained.

My parents left because they breed mules and of course that means they have a hella loud donkey! My parents were there before the mcmansions came in and the compaints about the jack ass never stopped! They couldn't take to anymore and left.

I don't agree with mink ranching. I don't agree with alfalfa farming either as a means to feed all of the beef we consume. It wastes tons of water. I think we need to look to more sustainable ways of feeding people, and mink ranching is just cruel. I know it's controversial. I know mink farmers. They are doing a legacy family business. But it needs to stop.

While my dad was on the planning commission he opposed high density housing. They didn't want "low income riff raff" in the community. Low income riff raff like their own kids who cant afford to live there. There was a huge push to keep highland more "rural" and it all ended when micron built their facility.

What I'm trying to say, not very eloquently, is this is a complicated issue. I'm pretty sure the farms around me (still in Utah county) will be gone soon to housing, which we desperately need. I'm watching my adult kids struggle to find affordable homes to purchase. They have down payments and good credit. But they are priced out of the market.

The farmers property is worth a lot more developed to farmers than to continue farming (see the orchard near Costco in Lehi for reference) and it's hard fucking work! Immigration also plays into this issue. Farmers are struggling to find people to pick their produce. This is a simple truth. How do we support farms and farmers so they will stay?

Anyway, that is my nonsensical rant. I realize it's just my anecdotal story. But it bears more research and understanding.

Highland /Alpine is my childhood home and I'm pretty sentimental about it. Change is hard.