R. David Shew
What is the one of the constants in life? From my perspective, the answer is change. Most people do not enjoy changes in life like getting older, not getting chosen for a promotion, getting fired, hearing “you have cancer” are just a few of the changes that annoy us.
For me, the squabbles on the Internet are getting louder and louder, especially when it comes to people telling others that they cannot sell their farms.
When my family moved to Madison County in 1970 and before County Planning & Zoning, I remember farmers telling others “Don’t tell me what I can do with my farm.”
For the record and eight years later, the Madison County Fiscal Court originally established and entered resolutions concerning its land use planning study and Planning Commission on May 16, 1978. When Kent Clark was the Judge Executive, Forniss Park made the motion to adopt Ordinance No. 99-11 and Billy Ray Hughes on June 8, 1999 seconded the motion. At the second reading on June 22, 1999, the ordinance was adopted by a unanimous vote.
Now, let’s fast forward to July 2026. We now see many Madison Countians upset with the Planning Commission that is appointed by elected officials and farmers wanting to sell their land to build an industrial park, solar farms, or develop a subdivision.
Let’s also look at who wants to be a farmer. Yes, there are many dedicated people who love to farm, and it is their way of life. There are others who have watched their grandparents and parents work from before sunup and until way after the sun has gone down. They have chosen not to farm like their grandparents and parents. Some of these people have chosen to sell the farm at the death of their grandparents and parents when they get a stepped-up basis of the land and minimize the tax aspect of selling the family farm.
One answer for those who don’t want to see the farms vanish in Madison County would be to establish a land conservancy nonprofit. Check out the Bluegrass Land Conservancy or click on bluegrasslandconservancy.org and make a contribution. Donate your farm to this group and make a difference.
Please stop complaining, run for office, donate your land, make a cash donation, and please just stop lashing out on social media.
