A Michigan farmer reclaimed his family’s 131 acres

John Boyer, a Michigan farmer, reclaimed his family's 131-acre land near East Jordan after it had changed hands over the years. However, his plans for the land did not stop there. In 2026, Boyer took an additional step to protect the property by selling its future development rights through a conservation easement. This means the 131 acres cannot be subdivided and developed for residential or commercial purposes, even if the property changes hands in the future.

Boyer grew up surrounded by farmland in East Jordan. Despite the 131-acre property eventually passing out of the family, he eventually had the opportunity to bring it back in 2018 and continue farming it. For Boyer, the land held emotional value beyond its market price, representing countless hours of work and a connection to the agricultural community.

Worried about the land being divided into smaller parcels and developed for housing, Boyer opted for a conservation easement. Instead of selling the entire farm, he retained ownership of the 131 acres while transferring the development rights to the Little Traverse Conservancy. This arrangement restricts future residential and commercial development on the property, ensuring the land remains agricultural.

Protecting Michigan's farmland is a significant concern as farmland values rise and development pressures increase. The state had about 9.5 million acres devoted to farming in 2022, a decrease from approximately 9.8 million acres in 2017. Conservation easements offer landowners a way to benefit from their property's value without selling it, providing an alternative to traditional sales.