Story problem:

Two farmers go to market with lamb to sell.

Farmer “A” bought his own 44 acres of land, paid the cost to drill his own well and install utilities, purchased materials and built his own fences, cared for his own property, and paid his property taxes.

Farmer “B” did not.

Farmer “B” leased 44 acres for 20 years at $250 per month. The landlord paid $106,000 to build the fence and install utilities and paid Farmer “B” approximately $45,000 to build the fences. Which one will be able to sell his lamb at the market for the lowest price?

Answer: You are farmer “B’s” landlord. Who knew?

Yes that’s correct, the citizens of San Juan County, through the Land Bank, purchased the King Sisters farm for $545,000. They paid an additional $106,000 to develop the land, including a fence for $65,000, and a well and utilities for $41,000. They then leased this property for $3,000 a year for 20 years to make this look like a working farm.

Good stewardship? You decide.

Everyone likes farms. We need farms.

I hope Farmer “B” does well. He has every right to enter into this arrangement and I only have goodwill toward him.

My only question here is should the Land Bank’s mission be stretched to the limit by picking winners and losers in farming? If they subsidize one farmer, shouldn’t they give something to the others for keeping their farms working?

After all, if it is the “appearance of farming” that the public wants to see in the island’s rural areas, shouldn’t the Land Bank help those who are doing it on their own dime?

Why should they be in the land development business at all?

Gordy Petersen

San Juan Island