The Concerned Citizens of Hardy County remain aware of attempts to harm agriculture that has supported our families for generations. Around the country, well-funded interest groups continue attempts to manipulate local ordinances and zoning to further their radical agendas. Despite West Virginia state law that clearly protects agriculture from unnecessary and burdensome overregulation, there are still attempts to set the groundwork for harmful regulation in Hardy County.
The current draft of the Hardy County Comprehensive Plan, a document used to guide the county’s development over the next decade, attempts to classify farms into four separate, divisive categories. These definitions are “traditional,” “local,” “family,” and “industrial” farms. There is no need for separating farms by abhorrent, trivial definitions. Regardless of size, shape or operation, a farm is a farm. Period. These definitions mirror tactics used by out-of-state, anti-agriculture organizations to regulate farms into the ground, attempting to cause harm to entire communities. If these definitions remain, they are first step towards harmful regulation of local farming operations and an infringement on your God-given property rights.
Farmers, poultry growers, and friends of Hardy County agriculture – it is time to act. Speak to your county commissioners, planning commissioners and local representatives about the harm these definitions will cause to Hardy County’s largest economic driver. We must protect Hardy County agriculture!
